After spending nearly a quarter of a century shrouded by scaffolding, one of Dublin's most significant landmarks, the triple-tiered steeple of St George's Church in Hardwicke Place, has finally been revealed in all of its glory.
The steeple, which is nearly as high as Liberty Hall, is the only church spire which can be seen from O'Connell Bridge. It is also the first landmark to greet visitors on their way in to the city centre from Dublin airport.
The former church dates from 1814 and is acknowledged as the masterpiece of Francis Johnston, architect of the GPO in O'Connell Street and the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle. It was deconsecrated in 1988 due to lack of patronage.
Its structure had been suffering from the same problem that hit the Custom House. As a result of water penetration over the years, the iron cramps holding its blocks of Portland stone together had expanded, splitting the stone.
Four years ago, Dublin City Council issued a dangerous buildings order requiring Galway-based Redgrove Properties Ltd, which then owned St George's, to remove all the loose stonework in its steeple and wrap it in wire mesh to prevent any more falling off.
In December 2004, the property was acquired for a reported €1.25 million by Navan-based property developer Eugene O'Connor, who had already restored the former St Kienan's Church in Duleek, Co Meath, as The Spire, a successful restaurant. Saying he was committed to bringing St George's back to life, Mr O'Connor's first task was to remove the rusty scaffolding erected years earlier by Rainey; it had been up for so long, with the firm's name on it, that it became known as "the Rainey church".
Last August, an application was made to Dublin City Council under Section 5 of the 2000 Planning Act seeking a declaration of exemption from planning permission for the repair and restoration of the stonework on the steeple and its louvred windows.
This was granted last October and work started immediately, under the supervision of conservation architect James O'Connor. Consulting engineers Barrett Mahoney estimated the cost of restoring the stonework would be in the region of €1.5 million.
The city council made a contribution towards the cost from its limited budget for conservation.
With this work now complete, the next phase will involve urgent reslating to the main roof of the building, which once housed the Temple Theatre. Previously, the building was owned by actor Seán Simon, who purchased it from the Church of Ireland in 1991.
Pieces of its ornate pulpit adorn Thomas Read's pub in Parliament Street, while the church bells, mentioned in Ulysses, now ring at Taney Church, Dundrum. The restoration of its steeple was warmly welcomed yesterday by Dublin city architect Jim Barrett. "It's great to get such an important landmark back," he said.
