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O'Connell St. and Spire
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O'Connell Street and Spire.
Dublin’s main boulevard runs south from the Parnell Monument to the O’Connell monument overlooking O’Connell bridge that spans the river Liffey. The bridge has the distinction of having its width and length in equal proportions
Dominating the skyline is the Dublin Spire, the winning entry to provide a replacement for Nelson’s Pillar which was blown up in 1966 the year that marked the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Rsing. The Spire is one hundred and twenty metres high making it the tallest structure in the city centre.
Buildings of interest on O’Connell Street are the General Post Office, headquarters of the Rebels during the Rising. The building on the present site was built in 1818. In March 1916 the public areas were opened after extensive modernisation. One month later it and the whole building except the facade lay in ruins. Being the headquarters of the Rebels it was heavily shelled by British Artillery. The present building after reconstruction was reopened in 1929
Clery’s one of Irelands most famous department stores stands on the east side of the street, like the GPO the store was destroyed during the Rising. The pleasing classical style we see today was opened in 1922. Further up the street stands the famous Gresham Hotel.
At the southern end of the street stands the O’Connell Monument. Unveiled in 1882. Erin holds up a copy of the 1829 Act of Emancipation, to O’Connell. About thirty other figures representing the various institutions and classes circle the plinth. The four winged victories, some displaying neat bullet holes from the Rising symbolise the virtues of Courage, Fidelity, Eloquence and Patriotism.