The men behind the Spire

TODAY’S official opening of the Spire monument in Dublin brings to an end the most challenging project ever undertaken by a Dungarvan-based company which was set up by two brothers 30 years ago.

Only now can John and Tommy Radley and the specialist workforce at Radley Engineering Ltd, which manufactured the world's tallest monument, breathe that little bit more easily. For all concerned, it's a case of "mission accomplished".

"Yes, there is a sense of immense achievement at having taken on and completed the most challenging project in the company's three decades in business," said John Radley.

"And yes, there is also a sense of pride that we have done so with such meticulous perfection."

The Cork brothers, who are the company's joint managing directors, have been so engrossed in the project from day one that they are convinced it has taken six months out of their lives.

"The team we put in place to undertake the project was handpicked, each one a specialist in their respective fields," John Radley said.

"It was the equivalent of building a nuclear submarine, and undoubtedly the most challenging project our company has ever taken on."

The spire weighs 128 tonnes, contains three kilometres of welding, and has a 560 square metre surface area.

The tolerance level for each of the eight sections was so tight that it made the job even more challenging.

"Put another way," says Radley's general manager Brendan Moloney, "there was no room for error."

John Radley said that when the Spire was first mooted, it was given a cool reception by the public.

"Everyone was complaining about it, but when that final section was put in place there wasn't a dissenting voice to be heard, and that was a source of great satisfaction for all of us at the company," John said.

There is one last job to be completed before this morning's official opening. A time capsule also manufactured by Radley will be buried two metres beneath the spire.