The Irish Timesclock was finally removed from D'Olier Street in Dublin yesterday and is to be re-erected on the gable end of the company's new premises on Tara Street.
The clock, which dates from the early 1900s, was originally erected on the old Irish Times building on Westmoreland Street and then relocated to D'Olier Street after the front office was relocated there in the 1970s.
Planning permission had to be sought from Dublin City Council to remove the clock as it was part of a terrace of protected buildings dating from the first decade of the 19th century, designed by the Wide Streets Commissioners.
The city council also needed to give its consent as landlord to the re-erection of the clock on the new Irish Times premises, where it is to be placed at second-floor level on the Townsend Street frontage of the seven-storey building.
The clock will be prominently located on the basalt panels of the building, secured to its reinforced concrete structure.
It will also be situated at a high enough elevation to ensure that it would not be hit by a truck or double-decker bus.
Maolíosa Ó Floinn of architects Henry J Lyons and Partners said the cast ironwork of the clock - which he described as having "iconic value" - would need to be refurbished before being erected at its new location in the coming months.
In the meantime, he said work would proceed on the installation of a digital "ticker-tape scroll" at first-floor level on the Tara Street frontage of the building.
This will carry breaking news from Irish Times website, ireland.com.
The former Irish Times premises in D'Olier Street and Fleet Street was acquired last year by developers P Elliott and Company for €29 million.
It is likely to be renovated for a mix of offices and apartments with shops at street level.
