For over 150
years, Nelson's Pillar dominated O'Connell Street in Dublin. The
granite structure was erected in the early 19th century to commemorate
the British naval commander Horatio Nelson. He was killed in 1805
at the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain's most decisive naval victory of the
Napoleonic wars.

The monument received a mixed reception
from the very start, and was a subject of debate from the day it was
unveiled in 1809 until its destruction by a bomb on the 8th of March
1966.
Myles was joined by Donal Fallon, author
of the new book "The Pillar: The Life and Afterlife of Nelson's
Pillar". Myles was also joined in the studio by Pol O' Duibhir,
whose photographs of the bombing's aftermath appear in the book.

(Pol O Duibhir)
Donal Fallon's book, "The Pillar: The Life and Afterlife of Nelson's Pillar"
tells the story of the controversial granite structure. It begins
before the monument was even constructed, exploring how Sackville Street
developed (Sackville Street was renamed O'Connell Street in 1924). It
also takes a look at the history of British Imperial monuments in Dublin
that came before Nelson.

Base of Pillar (Pol O Duibir)
The story of Nelson's Pillar and its
location involves many famous Dublin names and characters, from Arthur
Guinness to James Joyce, and WB Yeats to The Dubliners. The book
examines the life of the Nelson Pillar site, looking at what was there
before the monument as well as the afterlife of the Pillar, and brings
the story right up to its eventual replacement with the Spire of Light.

(Pol O Duibir)

Army spectators
Pol O'Duibhir
In March of 1966, Pol O' Duibhir was a student, travelling from his
home in Ballybrack every day to UCD, where he was a student of economics
and politics. He was also a keen amateur photographer. His photographs
of 1960s Dublin are a great window into what life was like in the city.
Following the bombing of Nelson's Pillar, for many days afterwards
Pol took photos of the site on O'Connell Street. He also inadvertently
snapped the NCAD students who stole Nelson's head on a beach at
Killiney.
Pol's photos are a detailed chronicle of the aftermath of the
bombing. Now, the pictures have a new life as the illustrations which
compliment the story told in Donal Fallon's book.

Base of Pillar (Pol O Duibir)
The story of Nelson's Pillar and its
location involves many famous Dublin names and characters, from Arthur
Guinness to James Joyce, and WB Yeats to The Dubliners. The book
examines the life of the Nelson Pillar site, looking at what was there
before the monument as well as the afterlife of the Pillar, and brings
the story right up to its eventual replacement with the Spire of Light.

(Pol O Duibir)

(Pol O Duibir)


Cracked window (Pol O Duibir)

In March of 1966, Pol O' Duibhir was a student, travelling from his
home in Ballybrack every day to UCD, where he was a student of economics
and politics. He was also a keen amateur photographer. His photographs
of 1960s Dublin are a great window into what life was like in the city.
Following the bombing of Nelson's Pillar, for many days afterwards
Pol took photos of the site on O'Connell Street. He also inadvertently
snapped the NCAD students who stole Nelson's head on a beach at
Killiney.
Pol's photos are a detailed chronicle of the aftermath of the
bombing. Now, the pictures have a new life as the illustrations which
compliment the story told in Donal Fallon's book.

Base of Pillar (Pol O Duibir)
The story of Nelson's Pillar and its
location involves many famous Dublin names and characters, from Arthur
Guinness to James Joyce, and WB Yeats to The Dubliners. The book
examines the life of the Nelson Pillar site, looking at what was there
before the monument as well as the afterlife of the Pillar, and brings
the story right up to its eventual replacement with the Spire of Light.

(Pol O Duibir)
JCB (Pol O Duib
ir)
JCB (Pol O Duibir)


The missing head (Pol O Duibir)

The missing head (Pol O Duibir)
