The first section of the Dublin Spire a new monument for the city is bolted into position on O'Connell Street.
Engineers plan to complete the construction of the new 120 metre monument by mid-January. Today the first part of the monument, a 20 metre 42 tonne base, was put into place on the site of the former Nelson Pillar.
One of the largest cranes in Europe was deployed to guide the Spire into position.
The project is running three years late having been held up by objections and high court proceedings. There was applause from workers after the base slipped seamlessly into place.
Spire project manager Michael O'Neill is relieved to finally have the base in place as it is the most difficult section of the monument to install.
The Spire is the cornerstone for the redevelopment for O'Connell Street although not everyone has been impressed with what's sometimes tagged "The Stiletto in the Ghetto".
One passerby says that it is too high and a waste of money. Another asks,
What good is that spike to everyone?
Anne Graham of Dublin City Council and the project manager for O'Connell Street has described today as a statement of intent and that the street will be rejuvenated.
When completed the spire will stretch 120 metres into the sky, seven times the height of the General Post Office.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 December 2002. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
