One thing to add is the matter of fact that the blowing up of Nelson´s column was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising of March 1916 which started at the post office in Dublin´s O´Connell Street.. This rising wasn´t an immediate success. The Irishmen were poorly equipped and couldn´t defend english Battleships attacking the city. Many a man was imprisoned and executed. But the rising set a sign. After World War II Ireland seperated from England (but not the six northern counties, but that´s another story...). DeValera became first President who did not make a vow on the english king. Some years later Ireland left the Commonwealth and so far declared it´s complete independence. From this point signs of english occupation disappeared, at last Nelson´s column.