Sir, - In answer to the many critics of the newly commissioned monument for O'Connell Street in Dublin, may I eagerly pledge my support for the chosen design.
It is truly a break with, if not a challenge to, the past and a wonderful icon for the next millennium. In its pure and sharp simplicity it reflects a changing, vibrant city with a people firmly focused on the future. It pushes the boundaries of architecture in the way Liberty Hall, Busaras and the Central Bank forced people into a sense of modernity. All these buildings are now renowned and appreciated.
However, I do believe that the Corporation got it wrong in the way it dealt with the notion of replacing Nelson Pillar. It should have allowed the people of Dublin to choose a winner from a selection of entries by perhaps voting on-line or taking part in a telephone poll. With all the modernists "coming out" in City hall, one would expect such a break from the old ways. -Yours, etc., Eric Dillon,
Selskar Terrace, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.