Sir, - As the proposed Millennium Spire has received such adverse publicity during recent months, I feel compelled to write with something positive to say. Firstly, I must congratulate the Environment Minister, Mr Dempsey, on his decision to give this great monument the go-ahead. I would also like to compliment Ms Vivienne Roche for her wonderful "Comment Box" article in the first Irish Times of the New Year. This eloquently described the design of the Spire, and then set out to state the benefits which Dublin would gain from it. Her sentiments indicated how right the Minister was in his decision.
We are an Irish family company and have had a menswear shop for over 50 years at 34, Lower O'Connell Street, right beside the site of the spire. We are very conscious that the street has suffered during the years since the departure of the Nelson monument. Accordingly, we thoroughly approve of the decision to replace Nelson with a landmark monument worthy of the capital of our country.
This will be part of the renewal of the O'Connell Street streetscape and the evolution of a new public space in front of the GPO to be called the Millennium Square, of which we can be proud. We particularly commend the design of this monument as being very appropriate to such a proposal. And because the imposing height will give the spire its power, we are convinced that the Minister also did the right thing in not reducing its height, as some had suggested. Because of its slim design, the graceful and dramatic spire will act as a centre-point for this new pedestrian-friendly public space, as well as for the entire city.
We look forward to Dublin Corporation commencing the work immediately and completing the entire O'Connell Street renewal project, including the spire, in the shortest possible time. - Yours, etc.,
Jim Whelan, Chairman, Best Ltd, O'Connell Street, Dublin 1. Teachers' Pay Claim