The Spire, also known as the Monument of Light and the Millennium Spire, is a contemporary structure, towering 394 feet over O'Connell Street in Dublin.
The winning entry in an architectural competition, it was completed in January 2003 and is the tallest structure in the centre of Dublin, by a very long way.
The Spire was created to replace Nelson's Pillar, which had stood there since 1808, honouring Admiral Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, until it was blown up by the Irish Republican Army in the dead of night in March 1966.
After this, Nelson's head was held to ransom by a group of students and even appeared on stage at a Dubliners' concert, but now rests in peace in Pearse Street Library if you would like to visit.
The Spire is a slender conical structure made from stainless steel, three metres wide at the base and coming to a point at the top, perforated and illuminated with countless LEDs.
It is almost surreal, changing colour chameleon-like depending on the time of day. By night it is satin black, at dawn and dusk it has a blueish hue. In full sunlight it more resembles a computer simulation than a solid object, reflecting passers-by on its surface.
The Spire is a fabulous, uplifting contrast to the stone buildings of Dublin and truly fulfils its function to symbolise a bright new millennium for the city.
It is impossible to miss — but you would not want to miss it anyway!
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