Description of the attraction
As in many ancient cities, in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, the monuments of ancient architecture are harmoniously combined with the monuments of our time. The so-called Dublin Needle is an excellent example of this.
The official name of the monument is the Monument of Light. And although it was erected 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, Dublin's central street, 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 Nelson's famous Column in Trafalgar Square in London. In March 1966, the monument was blown up by Irish militants. Fortunately, none of the people were 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 with a height of 120 meters appeared on this site. Base diameter - 3 meters, top - 15 cm. The monument is made of stainless steel. In 1999, large-scale renovation work began on Dublin's main street, and the installation of the Needle was part of this downtown modernization project. It was this project that won the international competition, which was announced by the then Mayor of Dublin. The project was created in the studio of the architect Ian Ritchie, and the creators of the monument describe their creation as: "Elegant and dynamic simplicity, combining art and technology."
In the evening, the monument is illuminated, which creates a unique sight against the backdrop of the night sky.
