Mick Clifford: Would Daniel O'Connell recognise the Dublin of 2023? 

Debris is cleared from a burned out Luas and bus on O'Connell Street in Dublin, in the aftermath of violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday evening. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

O’Connell was restored to his splendid isolation, but the smell of burning rubber still hung in the air. 

Early on the morning after the night before, the streets of Dublin city centre were calm. One of the defining shots from the night before was that of flames rising from the base of the statue of Daniel O’Connell nearly engulfing his fine, big head.