400 ft Erection is Up

the Guru

The Spike is now up Looks pretty impressive for those that care

xx

Noel Dempsey can breath a sigh of relief. There is now a bigger prick in dublin than him.

theciscokid

what a waste of money,,

of the hundreds of european entries , you think they'd pick an irish one,

i mean at least pick the best five and let the irish ppl vote on it

leeroybrown

Noel Dempsey can breath a sigh of relief. There is now a bigger prick in dublin than him.

In size maybe but not in spirit

They added the final section this morning, didn't they?

JohnK

Originally posted by xx
Noel Dempsey can breath a sigh of relief. There is now a bigger prick in dublin than him.

LOL



The whole idea seems like a total waste of time and money to me

leeroybrown

This spike could start the ultimate vandalism competition of all time.

Who can get their mates bike over the top of it first???

Big Chief

Originally posted by leeroybrown
They added the final section this morning, didn't they?

i went for lunch at 12 ish, and it was being put in place at around 20 past 12. For something that no one seemed to dislike talbot street/o'connell street was packed, could hardly move about due to ppl just standing there with there cameras

i dont see the big fascination in a sheet of steel myself, i just wanted a roll on sausage

its also pretty massive, dunno if i expected it to be that tall

leeroybrown

All they need to do now is get planning permission for a ball either side, add a massive red light to the top and open a brothel in the GPO.

eth0_

Originally posted by leeroybrown
This spike could start the ultimate vandalism competition of all time.

Who can get their mates bike over the top of it first???

You can't write on it. There's apparently going to be a barrier around it and there'll be very regular cleaning of any graffiti that does appear.

I wanted to write my name on it an' all

Xterminator

Originally posted by theciscokid
what a waste of money,,

of the hundreds of european entries , you think they'd pick an irish one,

i mean at least pick the best five and let the irish ppl vote on it

Yeh, then you could complain about all the money they spent on the vote. Then when less than 5% of the citizens bother there arse to vote, you could claim it wasnt valid, due to low turn out .. etc etc etc.

If it helps to bring tourists into Dublin, and improves the character of O'Connell st, it will more than pay for itself.

X

DadaKopf

Originally posted by theciscokid
what a waste of money,,

of the hundreds of european entries, you think they'd pick an irish one

I don't see you giving out about the Porguguese architect who designed the new bridge down past the Four Courts. Or the Pole who designed the UCD Arts Block and Smithfield Tower. And maybe having a Brit design Dublin's new symbol isn't such a bad thing either.

Good architecture is good architecture. It doesn't matter where it comes from necessarily.

First you say "what a waste of money" and follow on by giving out about the fact that an Irish entry wasn't chosen. Would it have been a 'splendid show of Irish wealth', then, if an Irish entrant were chosen? No. You'd still be berating it, as would so many other people.

I can see the future: in 3 months, everyone will love it. Their underdeveloped imagination, that's so symptomatic of everything wrong with Ireland, will eventually catch up with the reality.

Just read what Ian Richie (www.ianritchiearchitects.co.uk) has said about his concept about the Spire and tell me why you think it's a bad design concept and waste of money.

leeroybrown

Most giant sculptures, archetectural monuments, etc seem to be treated with distain until people get used to them.

Think of the "Angel of the North" in the UK.

Icehouse

Maybe everyone in Ireland (or Dublin) will grow to like it - or maybe they'll have to do away with it as a waste of time/(air!)space like they did with the 'floozie'. For Fcuk'ssake, why couldn't the money have been spent on litter wardens, tearing down or doing up the monstosities of buildings that still exist in Dublin's city centre rather than the spike. At the very least they should have waited until O'Connell St looked well before adding another monument. Dublin is a depessing place for an expat like me to visit - I've read for years that the econom's been doing well, it's become more cosmopolitan etc/. and in actual fact Dublin is still a hole. Now a hole with a spike.

elexes

they should of put a giant vibrator there to thank ann summers for all her good work to the irish girls that shop there ...

Scruff

well i saw it this morning on the way to work and the first thing i thought was
"WOW! Look at the height of that crane, its huge! thats bloody cool! oh and there is a shinny thing in front of it, what a cool crane"

might look better when the crane is gone imo.

Scruff

Originally posted by Icehouse
For Fcuk'ssake, why couldn't the money have been spent on litter wardens, tearing down or doing up the monstosities of buildings that still exist in Dublin's city centre rather than the spike. At the very least they should have waited until O'Connell St looked well before adding another monument. Dublin is a depessing place for an expat like me to visit - I've read for years that the econom's been doing well, it's become more cosmopolitan etc/. and in actual fact Dublin is still a hole. Now a hole with a spike.

Well it is in fact part of a €400 million redevelopment plan for O'connell St. and the City Center. As part of that they have bought that old cinema at the top or o'connel st.
(dunno the name cause i a bog trotter who now lives on the South side:p )

TwoShedsJackson

It looks great, I think. About time we had a proper landmark and symbol of Dublin that isn't repulsively ugly. As for people bitching about what it cost, if they hadn't spent the money on the Spike they wouldn't have spent it on the homeless or the GAA or whoever else the moaners think should have got it.

Michael O'Nuallain's objections were a laugh though, perhaps his bloody flying saucer design might have been worth looking at in more detail

leeroybrown

they have bought that old cinema at the top or o'connel st.

Thats the brothel sorted. All they need now is the two balls and the red light.

leeroybrown

Now this is the coolest monument on the planet:

http://www.cbu.edu/~aross/biodept/MIRT/BRAZIL/img023.JPG

And the angel of the North for good measure:

The Angel of the North

DadaKopf

Where can I see a picture of that tosser's proposal?

DapperGent

I think it's wonderful.

I work on the top floor of a tall building on Glasnevin Hill and I think it will really improve the city's pretty lacklustre skyline.

It's nice to see the city finally get a modern landmark. Plus I just think it kicks ass.

Rolo Tomasi

My Mates and I are building a shopping trolley launcher. Might as well put my engineering degree to some use!!

Their underdeveloped imagination, that's so symptomatic of everything wrong with Ireland, will eventually catch up with the reality

F**K off!!

hedgetrimmer

pity the crane will have to go...I thought that was more impressive, and you could have had bungee jumps from it

Kali

Originally posted by Rolo Tomasi
F**K off!!

Ahh see thats whats wrong with Ireland.. a complete lack of constructive and well-thought arguments and the ability to think for ones self.

Dampsquid

What size bomb would be needed to knock it over? It could be a target for a terrorist attack....

Elmo

I will be setting up a manufacturing company to make sovoneers (Must look up the spelling before I begin my venture).

Anyway all I need is a couple of Thousand knitting needles and a wooded bases.

The Americans will lap it up.

Seriously I think it was a waste of money it means nothing what so ever to Ireland (Or dublin for that matter), Its not much of a monument when it means nothing. Other then the fact that they didn't even invest in Irish Art but went to England for the design.

Gaz

Seriously I think it was a waste of money it means nothing what so ever to Ireland (Or dublin for that matter), Its not much of a monument when it means nothing. Other then the fact that they didn't even invest in Irish Art but went to England for the design.

What has the eiffel tower got to do with Paris ? Whats french about it ?

The statue of liberty wasnt designed or built by americans yet its considered a piece of american culture.

The spike is new, it will of course take some getting used to but its very narrow minded to dismiss it all together.

THere is nothing in Dublin that a foreign person can look at and instantly recognise it as being Dublin ... this will do that perfectly.

I think its great !!!

Elmo

I don't see you giving out about the Porguguese architect who designed the new bridge down past the Four Courts. Or the Pole who designed the UCD Arts Block and Smithfield Tower. And maybe having a Brit design Dublin's new symbol isn't such a bad thing either.

I could careless about the UCD Arts Block. Is the portugese the millenimum bridge or the one thats not finished? I like the mill Bridge.

But to have a british designer designed the main monument in dublin city is riduculus why didn't they just rebuild the Nelson's Pile to just show the might of the British.

It would make sence to have an Irish symbol in the centre of dublin, after all we are Irish. But this Monument of Light means nothing.

120 metres high and 3 metres in diameter at the base, the tapering monument will rise above O’Connell Street, breaking above the roof line with as slender and elegant a movement as is technically possible. Its structure and surfaces respond to the character and climate of the Irish landscape.

What a pile of Crap.

Rolo Tomasi

Ah I love/hate to see posts which claim they know what is wrong with Ireland and most importantly have the ability to some up in a one line post.

To be honest the only reasonable reply to such an argument is my simple yet very effective 2 word reply.

The abilty to think for ones self vs. one poster's conceited and condescending view that they know what is wrong with Ireland. Please dont patronise me.

In my free,independent and informed opinion and ,which will not be altered by the passing of 3 months ,(intesting time frame by the way) the Spire is ill advised.

The_Bullman

just to say that I like it.

A good idea to take the mind off all the chippers in o' connell street

Elmo

Actually How many people here liked The Flusy in the Jacuse??? And it was there if more then 3 MONTHS.

Bard

Actually How many people here liked The Flusy in the Jacuse???

764,231 people did...

no, seriously?...

It was quite nice actually, when the water was flowing and it wasn't full of shit...

As for the spire...

Ooh! Nice pointy thing!

Look at it, live, here, here and here.

jd

Originally posted by Elmo


What a pile of Crap.

I think its pretty cool, as a piece of architecture/art, and as an engineering structure too. Beats having a statue of Dev or some other gob****e..

oeNeo

I think it's pretty cool aswell, kinda out of the ordinary but it's still nice.

jd

Originally posted by jd
I think its pretty cool, as a piece of architecture/art, and as an engineering structure too. Beats having a statue of Dev or some other gob****e..

I mean De Valera,


[Just as well m8! I've got my eye on you - DeV]

Bard

Originally posted by Scruff
As part of that they have bought that old cinema at the top or o'connel st.
(dunno the name cause i a bog trotter who now lives on the South side:p )

The "old cinema at the top of O'Connell Street" is the Ambassador and no, nobody's bought that.

The city council have bought The Carlton cinema in the middle of O'Connell Street under compulsory purchase. It's reported that the owners didn't want to sell but weren't given a choice. Apparently, it is to be redeveloped as a shopping and entertainment complex as part of the new 'hip' O'Connell Street.

Originally posted by jd:

I mean De Valera

Yes, of course, we all thought you were talking about a 400 foot statue of DeVore ... :rolleyes:

DadaKopf

Originally posted by Elmo
Seriously I think it was a waste of money it means nothing what so ever to Ireland (Or dublin for that matter), Its not much of a monument when it means nothing. Other then the fact that they didn't even invest in Irish Art but went to England for the design.

Anyone could enter. A British design won. It's that simple. Do you not think that the Spire's design leaves enough to the imagination for the people of Dublin and Ireland to imprint the Spire with our own meaning rather than having it foisted on us by a hubristic Irish traditionalist? I sure do and I think it's the most responsible, open, democratic, organic thing to do. I don't hate Irish history, I wish we could connect with it more and, contrary to what I take your opinion to be, I think it'll prompt closer connection with our culture, not further dislocation from it.

Originally posted by Tolo Tomasi
Ah I love/hate to see posts which claim they know what is wrong with Ireland and most importantly have the ability to some up in a one line post.

To be honest the only reasonable reply to such an argument is my simple yet very effective 2 word reply.

The abilty to think for ones self vs. one poster conceited and condecending view that they know what is wrong with Ireland. Please dont patronise me.

In my free,independent and informed opinion and ,which will not be altered by the passing of 3 months ,(intesting time frame by the way) the Spire is ill advised.

Your reply was hardly constructive, was it? It was hardly imaginative.

What I said isn't even my opinion, I'll admit that right now. It's the opinion of a host of political and social researchers, scholars and theorists I've read and one book in particular. My statement was based on evidence.

So if you want to argue this point, I'm happy to so long as you have solid reasons to back it up. You are, absolutely entitled to your opinion. But don't insult yourself by replying so moronically.

Rolo Tomasi

Who are you the thought police?? Please post your sources or at the very least the name of this book, I would love to read it.

Their underdeveloped imagination, that's so symptomatic of everything wrong with Ireland, will eventually catch up with the reality

so is this an example of imaginative and constructive post, which you admit is not own? Maybe your correct when you post about people's under-developed sense of imagination, the power of an original thought.

pugwall

I really like it.....its quite impressive IMO. It looks really well from Henry St. Hopefully it will bring some vibrancy to our main street.

Thorbar

Originally posted by Rolo Tomasi
...ones self vs. one poster's conceited and condescending view...

...my free,independent and informed opinion...

Nice example of hypocrisy there. Personally I can't find anything wrong with having an architect from another country designing a public monument for our city. I guess I'm not xenophobic enough to think just because they're not Irish they couldn't do the job any justice. As to the Spire itself I haven't seen it in real life yet so I can't really comment on the design. But in UL we have two huge flag poles at the main entrance which could be described as similar and I must say they're an impressive sight.

Rolo Tomasi

You are taking each point in isolation. The general theme of the post is not one of hipocrisy, which you appear to have missed.

The first part of the post refers to DadaKopf statement that the Irish imagination is inherently limited and that I will change my mind with the passsing of time.

The second refers to my own opinion on the topic at hand. I am merely pointing out that my opinion, is my own, not a naive reponse to the construction of the spire. Not a limited response as one would like to believe.

theciscokid

i think they should stick an irish broadband mast up there, it would cover most of the city center

yossarin

i didn't like it on paper, but now that it's up, I think that it's pretty good.

quite inspirational, if you will. certianly worth the money.

(+/- any "misc expns" that will probably show up in the bill )

- re putting up a broadband omni - that'd be really good - its a nice high point. the only trouble would be what to do when the aerial breaks/ shuts down

theciscokid

Originally posted by Xterminator
Yeh, then you could complain about all the money they spent on the vote. Then when less than 5% of the citizens bother there arse to vote, you could claim it wasnt valid, due to low turn out .. etc etc etc.

If it helps to bring tourists into Dublin, and improves the character of O'Connell st, it will more than pay for itself.

X

i agree anything to improve tourism is good,

an online vote maybe

theciscokid

Originally posted by DadaKopf
I don't see you giving out about the Porguguese architect who designed the new bridge down past the Four Courts. Or the Pole who designed the UCD Arts Block and Smithfield Tower. And maybe having a Brit design Dublin's new symbol isn't such a bad thing either.

Good architecture is good architecture. It doesn't matter where it comes from necessarily.

First you say "what a waste of money" and follow on by giving out about the fact that an Irish entry wasn't chosen. Would it have been a 'splendid show of Irish wealth', then, if an Irish entrant were chosen? No. You'd still be berating it, as would so many other people.

I can see the future: in 3 months, everyone will love it. Their underdeveloped imagination, that's so symptomatic of everything wrong with Ireland, will eventually catch up with the reality.

Just read what Ian Richie (www.ianritchiearchitects.co.uk) has said about his concept about the Spire and tell me why you think it's a bad design concept and waste of money.

maybe because i like all the other projects designs that you mentioned, i do not however like the spike,

Monkey

Personally, I don't like it. I think it's ugly and as a piece of art conceptually weak.

The notion that the way the top will sway in the wind reflects the culture and people of Dublin is ****ing stupid. I have a feeling that was an afterthought hadd when the architecht needed to explain the sculpture.

I'm not outraged at the money spent on it. But maybe if they want to make Dublin a better city they should do a better job of tackling the basic problems like our bad public transport, the amount of drug abuse, our dirty streets and our filthy, smelly river.

theciscokid

it just occured to me , with all the bad news the spike's getting,

does anyone remember the one million pounds spent on that millennium clock in the liffey,..

dumb ppl didn't take into account the algae, no one could fcuking see it a few weeks later

daveJAM

Originally posted by Monkey
The notion that the way the top will sway in the wind reflects the culture and people of Dublin is ****ing stupid. I have a feeling that was an afterthought hadd when the architecht needed to explain the sculpture.

Yeah thats total bull. Its far easier to build a "soft structure" that will sway with the wind than one thats rigid.

He's just bull****ing to make himself look good. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Maybe he just thinks the swaying will alarm some people and is just covering his ass.

Don't get me wrong, I think the spire is great. I'm studying Arch Tech and I really appreciate this kind of thing and how it's definately not a waste of money.

Dotsie~tmp

I was watching six o c news and my least favourite type of Irishman came on.

Four an a half million pounds it cost, that shoulda been put into a hospital...the health care in this country is...blah blah feckin BLAH

The same dolts came out when the national stadium was on the off. What about this what about that, theres no money. Shíte to that. We would have nothing interesting around us to see or do if these old (in mind not always body) gits had any say. None have the vision to see that you cant save your way out of recession. They cant fathom the jobs created directly and indirectly connected to these type of proects. By these types of projects i mean ones that may have no essential need to exist unlike hospitals and busses.

This money dropped into a hospital would have twirled away with no obvious sign it was ever ther except for the fatter wallet in a consultants pocket. In the spire it will last for a whole lot longer and imo will inspire people in their own small way. Personally i love the pure engineering skill of its design and simplicity. More interesting than any classic painting i had to study in my leaving thats for sure. I wish we did more things like this, built more than bleeding houses, did more research or discovery, fired some fúckin rockets off into space or something. Just look at the crowd! Irish people arent devoid of inspiration, its just been drummed out of us by those dirty dog collared bástards. Long live Ireland and the spire!

festivala

It's very impressive in real life.

Pity about the surrounding street though.....

Chowmein

Think its quite nice actuly, better then nothing

Oh and on another point i quite liked the "The Flusy in the Jacuse"