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Destruction of Nelson's Pillar 17 images Created 8 Mar 2016

On March 8, 1966, a 121-foot tall granite monument in the heart of Dublin city was blown up in the early hours of the morning. Nelson's Pillar, a 13 foot statue of British Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson that stood atop a hollow granite obelisk, had towered over O'Connell Street for more than 150 years.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to destroy the pillar during the 1916 Rising, with the 1966 explosion taking place just a few weeks shy of the Easter Rising's 50th anniversary commemorations. Miraculously, no one was harmed during the explosion, although a large granite stump was left surrounded by large pieces of rubble in the middle of Dublin's main thoroughfare.

A group of Republican activists were later known to be responsible although no charges were ever laid after eight suspects were initially questioned. Six days after the explosion, the Army detonated the remaining pillar causing a sizable amount of damage to nearby buildings.

These striking photographs were taken on the night of the explosion and in the days afterward by Independent News and Media photographer Tom Burke. Working for the Evening Herald at the time, which was located in the immediate vicinity on Middle Abbey Street, he was on a night shift when he heard the bang of the explosion. With the street shrouded in a thick smoke, he managed to capture these incredible scenes.
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  • Two firemen searching the rubble are pictured with the granite head from the statue of Horatio Lord Nelson. March 8, 1966. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson 's Head.jpg
  • A rooftop view of the remains of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that took place on March 8, 1966 in Dublin city centre. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar.jpg
  • The remains of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that took place on March 8, 1966 in Dublin city centre. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 11.jpg
  • The granite head from the Statue of Horatio Lord Nelson. Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street was destroyed by explosives on March 8, 1966. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 06.jpg
  • Destroyed cars in the aftermath of the Nelson's Pillar explosion in Dublin. March 8, 1966. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 07.jpg
  • Buildings with smashed windows in the aftermath of the Nelson's Pillar explosion in Dublin. March 8, 1966(Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 08.jpg
  • The granite head from the Statue of Horatio Lord Nelson. Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street was destroyed by explosives on March 8, 1966. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 15.jpg
  • The granite head from the Statue of Horatio Lord Nelson. Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street was destroyed by explosives on March 8, 1966. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 17.jpg
  • Scaffolding surrounds the remaining structure of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that mostly destroyed it on March 8, 1966. Six days later the remaining structure was demolished by another explosion detonated by the army. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 18.jpg
  • Men working to remove the remaining structure of Nelson's Pillar. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 21.jpg
  • A rooftop view of the remains of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that took place on March 8, 1966 in Dublin city centre. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson Pillar 3.jpg
  • The remains of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that took place on March 8, 1966 in Dublin city centre. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson Pillar Aftermath.jpg
  • Firemen search the rubble after the explosion that destroyed Nelson's Pillar. Nobody was harmed although the structure was so damaged it was demolished by another explosion detonated by the army six days later. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 1.jpg
  • A rooftop view of the remains of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that took place on March 8, 1966 in Dublin city centre.(Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 02.jpg
  • A night time view of the remains on Nelson's Pillar. March 8, 1966. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 03.jpg
  • The remains of Nelson's Pillar after the explosion that took place on March 8, 1966 in Dublin city centre. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 05.jpg
  • The last of the rubble of Nelson's Pillar. The first explosion on March 8, 1966 was detonated by Republican activities. Six days later the army destroyed the remaining structure with another explosion. (Part of the Independent Newspapers/NLI Collection)
    Nelson's Pillar 19.jpg