I must confess a slight obsession with The Spire of Dublin (officially The Monument of Light – An Túr Solais) that stands in the middle of O’Connell Street, where Nelson’s Pillar used to stand in the days before I was even a twinkle in my father’s eye. It is essentially a massive stainless steel cone-like structure, just shy of 400 feet high, and is billed as the world’s tallest sculpture. At its base it is about 10 feet in diameter, narrowing to just under 6 inches in diameter at the top. It is a huge, modern statement – the only problem being, I’m not quite sure what that statement is.
During my recent Christmas trip to Dublin, I seemed to end up in the vicinity of the Spire on most days whilst on my way somewhere else. It is hard to avoid, that massive structure looms large over almost everything else around it. It can even be seen clear across town, competing with the Wellington Monument in the Phoenix Park.
The Spire makes a cheeky appearance all the way across town at the Phoenix Park
I quite like the base of the monument, highly polished with eye-catching patterns, and from some angles – especially looking south along O’Connell Street, it is quite lovely in its entirety, although I could do without the naff illumination at the top.
The polished base of the Spire of Dublin
The Spire looking south along O'Connell Street
However, it does seem to be like the playground bully, overpowering just about everything in its wake. Poor Jim Larkin appears to have been positively skewered by it.
Jim Larkin skewered
No wonder the poor man has thrown his arms up in despair.
Despair
Sir John Gray has fared better, avoiding the skewering, but sporting a rather painful looking electric needle from the crown of his head.
Sir John Gray undergoing electric cranial acupuncture
There was apparently quite a hullaballoo made when this monument first showed its face on O’Connell Street in early 2003. I have yet to find a Dubliner who cares for it, and many of them refer to it as The Spike, a rather more utilitarian name than the lofty ‘Spire’ that it is officially named. Here are some other names I have heard for it.
The Rod to God
The Stiffy at the Liffey
The Erection at the Intersection (my favourite)
The Nail in the Pale
The Stiletto in the Ghetto
The Pin in the Bin
The Binge Syringe
I can imagine it is now the übercool place to meet, replacing the Eason’s clock and Clery’s clock meeting places of a bygone era – both of which presumably replaced the long since blown up Nelson’s Pillar as the place to meet. I have a premise that you can divide most Dubliners up into three groups, those who met under the Clery’s clock, those who met under the Eason’s clock and those who met at Nelson’s Pillar. I was an Eason’s clock girl. My dad was a Nelson’s Pillar guy. I suppose I shall have to add the Spire as a fourth group.
Meet me at the Spire
Meet me under the Eason's clock
Mind you, more often than not, my meeting spot of choice was Bewley’s on Grafton Street. It is still there, and I ventured in to have a look around and have a coffee, despite the milling crowds. It has been reborn, like a phoenix from the ashes, albeit without some of the old favourites, like the Mary cake, a request for which drew puzzled looks from the staff. I was sad to discover that the downstairs cafe, which was one of my favourite places with all its nooks and crannies, is no more. Bewley’s is, however, still a lovely, atmospheric refuge from the bustle of Grafton Street and the coffee is still delicious.
Grafton Street facade
The main dining room
Looking down from the mezzanine over the chandelier to where they grind the coffee
One last meeting place of note from my years in Dublin was Toner’s pub on Baggot Street. I spent many an evening, night and early morning in this age-old pub, which used to be frequented by literary greats such as Kavanagh and Yeats, but that is a story for another time.
Toner's of Baggot Street
Where's my backpack? 