The Spire on Dublin's O'Connell Street was first unveiled this day 20 years ago.
It stands at the sight of the former Nelson's Pillar, which stood there from 1809 to when it was destroyed in 1966.
At just under 400 feet in height, it cost nearly €4 million.
Its architect, Ian Ritchie, described it as "elegant and dynamic simplicity, bridging art and technology".
However, the eye-catching landmark has garnered mixed reviews, earning nicknames such as 'the nail in the pale' and 'the stiletto in the ghetto'.
Mr Ritchie's studio told Newstalk: "Without all of these people, and those begrudgers who created such brilliant names for it, the Spire would not be here today."
On its 20th anniversary, we want to know, is the Spire elegant or is it an eyesore?
Seán O’Regan reports. pic.twitter.com/h0K4BRMitF
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) January 21, 2023
Mr Ritchie said that the team is "very proud and feel privileged" to have had their design chosen.
"It was quite a moving day", he said of the reveal on January 21st 2003.
"This lift had been delayed for a couple of weeks because of the very windy weather."
There were "great difficulties" throughout the process of creating and erecting the monument.
"All great constructions depend upon the commitment and relationship between the client, design team and contractors", Mr Ritchie said.
"I would like to say a very big thank you to the people of Dublin for smiling and cheering so heartily twenty years ago, for it is they and future generations who will live with the Spire of Dublin, and I hope that it will truly symbolise optimism and hope for the future despite the ups and downs of the world of economics, climate and health."
He said that on the day of its unveiling, he enjoyed a pint of Guinness with then-mayor Joe Doyle.
Mr Ritchie also met with Liam Sutcliffe, who claimed to have blown up Nelson's Pillar decades before.
He reportedly said: “The Spire looks magnificent. I was there from about 10 o’clock this morning. It looks like a great engineering job and a much better thing to have on the main street than an old foreign admiral with a broken arm and a missing leg.”
Mr Sutcliffe died in 2017.
Mr Ritchie is in the process of realising the new Commemorative Bridge across the Liffey to the Memorial Gardens.
Main image shows the Spire above a nearly empty Henry Street in Dublin City centre today. Photograph: Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie
