9 Undeniable Thoughts We’ve All Had About The Spire

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A wannabe Eiffel Tower, a failed Statue of Liberty and just a general question mark in an otherwise gorgeous city — the Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin is something that confuses both natives and visitors.

Why is it there? Does anyone care? What’s the point of it? Whether you live in Dublin or just passing through, don’t tell me you haven’t had these thoughts.

1. Can you even see it?

You’d think for a national monument that it would be the heart of the city. Sure, it’s found on one of the main streets in Dublin’s city centre, but that’s about it. Wander away from O’Connell Street and you lose view of this, quite frankly, random piece of architecture.

2. Oh, the vertigo

If you dare to look upon it up close, be prepared for the vertigo that comes with it, because that guy is actually huge.

3. Why?

A French person once asked me what I thought of the Spire, soon followed by a simple, “why?”. And I had no answer for her. We’ve all questioned its presence and each time, come up fruitless.

4. You can’t even climb it

If a tourist can’t see the point of it, then there’s no hope for the rest of us. People aren’t charged to see it, you can’t climb it, you can only stand at its nondescript base and squint as you try to see its nondescript top. Is this really the best Dublin has to offer?

5. Don’t judge us

I refuse to let my county be judged upon that meaningless piece of metal. We are more than the Spire, remember that.

6. The country folk love it

Well, to be fair, it is central. It can be a good meeting point for those who don’t know the city. I’ll give it that.

7. It doesn’t even have a song

In all aspects, Molly Malone is a far worthier of a monument. She even has her own song. What does the Spire have? People (still) playing Pokemon Go around it. Sad, really.

8. It’s forgettable

Let’s be honest, we all walk by it without a second glance. When someone asks for recommendations about Dublin, the Spire does not grace the list. Think about all the things that could take its place. Think of all the things that could have been built instead of that useless piece of metal.

9. It’s not even pretty

This is my biggest gripe with the Spire. It doesn’t even look nice. They don’t even dress it up at Christmas. Day by day, it just sits there. Plain, and kind of ugly.

Doesn’t Dublin deserve something better?