Dublin's crowning glory lifted into place
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Your support makes all the difference.The small army of citizens mustered outside Dublin's General Post Office ignored the morning cold in their determination to witness another milestone in the Irish capital's history.
Those who remained until the bitter end had a long wait, standing sentry as the Spire of Dublin rose over O'Connell Street. The final touches on the 120-metre metal spire, designed to fill the gap left when a monument to Lord Nelson was blown up by the IRA in 1966, were not completed until dusk on Wednesday. The operation to fit the final, most tapered piece of steel had begun when two engineers, perched on the rim of the penultimate section, waited for the perforated steel spike to be hoisted within arm's length.
By the time the biggest crane in Europe began lifting the 24-metre silver cone to its ultimate resting place the morning was almost gone. People stopped and stared towards the same spot in the sky while others shuffled past, eyes fixed on the sliver of steel. At 12.20pm, it was inched into position. The crowd cheered.
Martin Sinott observed operations. The Dubliner remembered when Nelson's Pillar was blown up. He had a piece of it at home.
Mr Sinott gave the new structure a vote of confidence. Not everyone agreed. "I'll give it a week before it blows over and flattens somebody," sniffed a passing local.
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