Madam, - Mark Leaden (February 16th) should note that when the Angel of the North was first installed there were many in the north of England who decried it as a monstrosity and a waste of public funds. And 10 years later there are still many who dislike it.
As for that sculpture being a beacon for the artistic regeneration of Gateshead, I would claim the same for the Spire and Dublin. We now have a Santiago Calatrava designed bridge; a Daniel Liebskind designed theatre is on the way; a second new landmark theatre will be built for the Abbey; a Norman Foster building for the U2 docklands site has been approved; and we have had many public art installations all over our city in recent years.
As somebody who approaches the Spire every evening on my way home, I enjoy how it reflects the different light of the seasons and the time of day. I love walking up close to it, constantly intrigued by the patterns at its base and awed by the way it soars gracefully to such a height from such a slender footprint. I admire the engineering design that makes it work and the creativity of the minds that conceived of it.
I do not think it is perfect, but it is a worthy addition to the public architecture of our city and I am proud of it. - Yours, etc,
JIM WALSH, Greencastle Road, Dublin 17.