Dublin needle. Official opening of the monument
Or the Monument of Light (Spuaic Bhaile Átha Cliath or An Túr Solais) - a steel monument made in the shape of a needle in the city of Dublin,. Its height reaches 121 meters (or 398 feet according to the local system). She was included in the version of our website.
The monument is part of the city's program to modernize Dublin city centre, and was created by Ian Ritchie Architects with the "elegance and simplicity" of contemporary art and decoration in mind. The first pedestal was installed in December 2002, the next month five additional sections of three meters in diameter were built, the spire narrows to 15 centimeters at the highest point.
Due to installation difficulties and environmental issues, construction was delayed for a long time. The design consists of hollow stainless steel pipes, with a powerful damper installed inside - a device for damping vibrations, which is also used in the construction of television towers and radio towers. Special surface treatment allows reflected light to create a spire of light effect. At night the monument is illuminated.
The beautification project began in 1999 because O'Connell Street had become unattractive due to the development of restaurants and boutiques using cheap plastic and glass. This monument is the tallest sculpture in the world, and received architectural awards in 2003 (BCI awards), 2004 (RIBA) and 2005 (MIES).
On the site of the Dublin Needle there was once a monument to the British admiral Horatio Nelson. In 1966, terrorists of the Irish Republican Army blew up a column with a sculpture and two days later the remains were dismantled.
The monument is located at the intersection of Henry Street (Sráid Anraí) and O'Connell Street Upper, Millennium Spire bus stop.
Photo attraction: Dublin Needle
The Monument of Light is the official name of the monument that the people of Ireland call the Dublin Spire or the Dublin Needle.
History of the creation of the monument
The Dublin Needle was designed and built by architects and specialists Ian Ritchie in 2003. The steel monument was erected on the site of the monument to Admiral Nelson, which was blown up by IRA militants in 1966.
The Monument of Light or Dublin Needle is located in the north of O'Connell Street - the main street of Dublin, the monument combines grace and simplicity, technology and art.
Construction of the monument
The designers of the monument promised that it would become a symbol of the millennium and the pride of Ireland. The height of the steel spire is 121.2 meters or 398 feet. The base of the monument is 3 meters or 9.8 feet in diameter, and at its highest point the spire tapers to a point of 15 centimeters in diameter.
The first sections of the monument were installed in December 2002, and in January 2003, five more twenty-meter sections were installed.
Official opening of the monument
The construction of the Dublin Needle caused a lot of controversy and debate about the funds spent; about 5 million EUR were spent on the monument, despite the difficult financial situation of that time.
Despite all this, on July 7, 2003, the monument was officially opened; a capsule with a message to future generations of Ireland was laid at the base of the monument, in which Mayor Lacey asked for forgiveness for what had been done and separately for inaction.
Dublin needle today
The Irish today have ambivalent attitudes towards the Monument of Light or the Dublin Needle; some consider it one of the main attractions of Dublin, others are sure that the monument is completely in bad taste and an unreasonable waste of money. Well, time is the best judge.
How to get there:
O’Connell, the location of the Dublin Needle is the central street of the city, trams run along it (1.6 EUR), and you can get from anywhere in the city to the center by bus (5.0 EUR).
As in many ancient cities, in the capital of Ireland, Dublin, monuments of ancient architecture are harmoniously combined with monuments of our time. An excellent example of this is the so-called Dublin Needle.
The official name of the monument is the Monument of Light. And although it was built only in 2003, it already has a history, and it can be called dramatic. The fact is that back in 1808, on O’Connell Street, the central street of Dublin, a column was erected in memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson. At the top of the column was a statue of the admiral. The column is very reminiscent of the famous Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square in London. In March 1966, the monument was blown up by Irish militants. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Dubliners believe that the city has lost a significant part of its uniqueness, because Nelson's Column was one of the recognizable symbols of the city.
In 2003, a new monument in the form of a needle 120 meters high appeared on this site. The diameter of the base is 3 meters, the top is 15 cm. The monument is made of stainless steel. In 1999, major redevelopment work began on Dublin's high street, and the installation of the Needle was part of this project to modernize the city centre. It was this project that won international competition, who was announced by the then Mayor of Dublin. The project was created in the studio of architect Ian Ritchie, and the creators of the monument describe their creation as follows: “Elegant and dynamic simplicity, combining art and technology.”
In the evening, the monument is illuminated, which creates a unique spectacle against the backdrop of the night sky.
