Samuel Beckett Bridge, County Dublin - Blog Eight

  Hello hello everyone, and welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger. Today we're going to look at one of the most modern bridges in Dublin City, and my personal favorite bridge on the entire island of Ireland, the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

The Samuel Beckett Bridge is a cable tied swingbridge (a movable bridge) that connects the city's South Side to the North Wall Quay. This modern architectural feat was designed by Santiago Calatrava, a Spanish structural engineer. The bridge was named for the famous Irish writer of the same name, who wrote the famous play 'Waiting for Godot'. The bridge cost 60,000,000 euro to build, and was constructed between 2007 and 2009. Criticism arose about the bridge because it slowed traffic on nearby roads, but the bridge serves as an easy link between across the River Liffey and is useful as a traffic and foot bridge. In total the structure is 120 meters long and 48 meters in height

That's all for this week's entry, goodbye goodbye!

The Peace Bridge - County Derry/Londonderry - Blog Six

 Hello hello everyone, and welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger, today we are looking at a very special bridge from Derry/Londonderry, the Peace Bridge.

The Peace Bridge is in the city center of Derry/Londonderry and crosses the Foyle River. This tall white pedestrian and cyclist bridge is a self anchored suspension bridge, and was built in 2011. It was designed by AECOM, an American owned international building and infrastructure corporation, who were also responsible for building the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge in China. The bridge is 235 meters long and 13 feet wide. The bridge connects the largely Unionist east side of the city to the largely Nationalist west side, and signifies a peaceful union between the communities of the city

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The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, County Antrim - Blog Five

 Hello hello everyone, and welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger, today we are looking at a particularly unusual bridge, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in County Antrim. 

Located near the village on Ballintoy, the bridge connects the island of Carricarede (Irish for 'Rock of the Casting') to the mainland. The bridge is twenty meters long and is thirty meters above the rocks below. It is a tourist attraction to visitors who climb across it to see the island, and it is owned by the National Trust. It costs £9 to cross the bridge, and it can hold eight people at a time. It has been thought that salmon fishermen have been building bridges to the island for over 350 years, and the bridge has changed a lot over time. In the 1970's the bridge only had one handrail and had large gaps between the planks, though the bridge is much safer now, and has two handrails. Many tourists have been intimidated by it's height however, and some have been to scared to cross the bridge again back to the mainland and have had to have been helicoptered off the island.

That's all for this week's entry, goodbye goodbye!

The Ha'Penny Bridge, County Dublin - Blog Four

 Hello hello everyone, and welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger. Today we're going to look at one of the most photographed bridges in Ireland, Dublin's Ha'Penny Bridge.

The Ha'Penny Bridge is one of the most well known bridges in Dublin, and has made a strong impact in Dublin's culture. Officially named the Liffey Bridge, the nickname came from pedestrians in early 20th Century Dubliners having to pay half a penny to cross the bridge, though this was done away with in 1913. Despite popular belief, the toll was introduced to make up for the prices that the city would miss out on from ferries no longer being able to use the route. many mistakenly believe that the toll was to pay for the construction of the bridge. The bridge was built from cast-iron in Shropshire, England, before being brought to Dublin. At the time it was called Wellington Bridge - after the Dublin born Duke of Wellington, however this name didn't stick.

That's all for this week's entry - goodbye goodbye!

Queen's Bridge, County Antrim - Blog Three

Hello hello everyone, and welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger. Today we're going to look at one of the oldest bridges crossing the River Lagan: Queen's Bridge, Belfast.

Queen's Bridge is one of eight bridges in the Belfast that crosses the River Lagan. Named for Queen Victoria it was built in 1843. This five stone arch bridge replaced a bridge named Long Bridge, built on the same site in 1682, supposedly built on an ancient ford. At the time of construction the project cost the Board of Works £27,000. It is often confused with Queen Elisabeth II Bridge, which is located nearby.

The image below is a drawing of  Long Bridge, published in 1823:

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Saint Patrick's Bridge, County Cork - Blog Two

Hello hello everyone, and welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger. Today we're going to look at one of Cork City's most iconic landmarks: Saint Patrick's Bridge.

Saint Patrick's Bridge in Cork City is a staple of the history of the city center's bridges, having been built almost 250 years ago. The bridge extends over the River Lee and links Main Street to Saint Patrick's Hill. In 2020 Transport Infrastructure Ireland funded a 1.2 million euro to restore the bridge to its former glory. 

Built in 1861, the bridge is 90 meters long, spans a waterway of 51 feet, and was built in a masonry arch style. It truly is a testament to it's time and late 19th Century engendering, as it still remains an important and strong feature of the city.

That's all for this week's entry, goodbye goodbye!

The Abbey Mill Bridge, County Donegal - Blog One

 Hello hello everyone, welcome back to the Bridges of Ireland Blog on Blogger. Today we're going to look at what is considered to be the oldest surviving bridge on the island: The Abbey Mill Bridge.

Found in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, the Abbey Mill Bridge is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in Ireland, estimated to have been built sometime around 1675. The classical stone bridge extends over the Abbey River with bushes on all sides, and blends well with it's surroundings as a humble but old bridge and local landmark. Ireland Before You Die ranked this bridge twelfth on their June 2022 list of most iconic bridges in the Republic of Ireland. This two arch road bridge is still in use after at least three hundred years, a testament to it's original construction.

That's all for this entry - goodbye goodbye!