The Spire of Dublin, alternatively titled the Millennium Spire or the Monument of Light[3] (Irish: An Túr Solais),[4] is a large, stainless steel, pin-like monument 120 metres (390 ft) in height,[5] located on the site of the former Nelson's Pillar (and prior to that a statue of William Blakeney) on O'Connell Street, the main thoroughfare of Dublin, Ireland.

Following the bombing of Nelson's Pillar by former IRA members in 1966, and subsequent controlled demolition six days later of what was left,[6] the site remained vacant for years as no decision could be reached on a suitable replacement.

In 1998, as part of a planned multi-million euro re-development of O'Connell Street (as well as a memorial to the upcoming millennium and the aspirations of Ireland in the midst of its Celtic Tiger economic boom), a competition was launched to find a replacement for Nelson's Pillar.

[7] As part of the project to improve the overall streetscape, a new granite plaza was promised[8] and the number of trees in the central reservation, which had overgrown and obscured views and monuments, was reduced dramatically.

[8] The announcement constituted a defeat for An Taisce, Ireland's non-governmental organisation active in the areas of the environment and built heritage, which had called for the spire's height to be reduced.

[18] The design around the 10 m (33 ft) lower part of the Spire was created by the architects making a 3D pattern model combining the core sample and double helix and then digitally translated to a 2D image drawing supplied to the contractor and used by specialists for cutting the masking material.

Supporters compare it to other initially unpopular urban structures such as the Eiffel Tower, while detractors complain that the Spire has little architectural or cultural connection to the city.

[23] It has inspired a number of nicknames, as is common with public art in Dublin, including the stiletto in the ghetto, the pin in the bin,[24][25] the stiffy by the Liffey,[26][27][28] the spire in the mire,[29][30][31] or the spike.