Palestinian flag flies for seven months atop Dublin's tallest monument

(Patria) - A Palestinian flag has been flying atop Dublin's tallest monument for seven months, and city authorities still don't know how to remove it.

The flag appeared on the 120-meter-high Spire on O’Connell Street last September and has defied all attempts at removal since then.

Who placed it there and how remains unknown.

City services have considered various options, including climbing with ropes, a "specially made ladder," and a 300-tonne crane, but all were rejected as too dangerous, too expensive, or ineffective.

- Someone could come back and put up a new flag on the Spire. We have probably exhausted all options for accessing the Spire from the ground at this point - an engineer told Dublin City Council, according to internal communication released this week by the Irish Times.

The flag flies high above traffic and passers-by. According to media reports, many don't notice it at all as it often gets tangled and is difficult to spot, but when they find out it's there, they mostly support it.

Ireland is one of the European Union's loudest members in its criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank, writes The Guardian.

The action was welcomed by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

"This is an incredible feat of acrobatics or ingenuity, or both! The streets are with Palestine!", they posted on X.

No one has claimed responsibility for placing the flag, but it is suspected to have been lowered by a drone. It is attached to a hoop and is located at a height of about 105 meters on the steel structure.

The location where the Spire stands has historical significance. It is opposite the General Post Office, which was occupied during the 1916 Easter Rising.

At the same location once stood Horatio Nelson's Pillar, similar to the one in London's Trafalgar Square, which was blown up by the IRA in 1966. The Spire was erected in 2003.

Experts have deemed all considered options for removing the flag, including ropes and special ladders, too risky.

- We were told that the only option they would consider is a mobile crane with a basket - an engineer told the council, according to the Irish Times.

The cost and traffic disruption such an operation would cause are currently preventing any action to remove the flag.