An Internet bid to have the Dublin Spire listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World has failed - on the grounds that the monument is too modern.
The New 7 Wonders Foundation (www.new7wonders.com), which is running an online poll to establish which sites are worthy of the title, has declared the Spire ineligible - not because the Swiss-based charity smelt a rat but because "under the rules nominations must be build between 2000 BC and 2000 AD".
Mr Bernard Weber, founder of the heritage group, said it considered changing the qualifying criteria after being flooded with requests for the Spire to be included as a candidate. However, he said, "the foundation decided to stick to this [qualifying time-span\] rule".
Candidate wonders comprise the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and Rome's Colosseum, along with 14 other sites from UNESCO's world heritage list, and eight sites suggested by popular demand.
The campaign to have the Spire included was led by online hoaxters, who circulated a chain e-mail urging people to nominate the monument in view of "Ireland's success at rigging internet votes".
Last December, the Irish diaspora helped to put A Nation Once Again by the Wolf Tones at the top of a BBC poll for the world's favourite song. In a previous hijacking, little known Irish footballer Ronnie O'Brien was voted Time Magazine's Person of the Century in an online poll.
While the Spire campaign was unsuccessful, it was not, however, entirely in vain. "We are keeping all suggestions for future projects," said Mr Weber, "and there is a chance that the Spike will be incorporated in one of those."
