Sir, - The original contributors to the time capsule found in O'Connell Street had assumed it wouldn't be opened for 1,000 years, as that's how long Nelson's Column was supposed to last (The Irish Times, October 3rd). Therefore, in respect to their wishes, it should be returned to its original site (after all necessary recording and documentation by the National Museum) and perhaps accompanied with a new time capsule from our own era.
In the current world situation a time capsule might be an even better millennium project than the "spike" itself. After all, 200 years isn't that long; another 800 will do. - Yours, etc.,
Conor McElhinney, Flood Street, Galway.