The Old Bridges of Ireland

The numbering system uses the 4 historic Irish provinces, Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. Those bridges which were in Ulster and are in Northern Ireland are marked *. Green typescript ≡ Bridge visited, with information sheet attached. The photographs were taken by Alastair and Heather Robertson.

NO. BRIDGE COUNTY LOCATION RIVER DATE U1* Massereene Bridge Antrim J 148 866 Six Mile Water 1710 U2* Morley Bridge Antrim J 258 895 c1700 U3* Callan Bridge Armagh H 866 452 Callan 17th C U4* Conn O’Neill’s Bridge Belfast J 364 734 Conn’s Water c1600 U5* Shaw’s Bridge Belfast J 325 690 Lagan 1709 U6 Ballyhaise Bridge Cavan H 452 116 Annalee 1710 U7 Finea Bridge Cavan N 402 814 Inny 1650 U8 Stramatt Bridge Cavan N 631 834 Blackwater 17th C? U9 Moville Bridge Donegal C 608 386 Bredagh <1600 U10 Clady Bridge Donegal/ Tyrone H 292 940 Finn 1680 U11* Ballagh Bridge Down J 384 250 Late-17th C U12* Crown Bridge Down J 108 275 Clanrye c1700 U13* Kate McKay’s Bridge Down J 210 408 Bann c1700 U14* Arney Bridge Fermanagh H 208 370 Arney Late-17th C U15* Bovagh Bridge Londonderry C 885 194 Agivey 16th C? U16* Roe Road Bridge, Limavady Londonderry C 668 229 Roe c1700 C1 Ballinasloe Bridge Galway M 855 312 Suck 1570 C2 Claregalway Bridge Galway M 373 332 DRY 1710 C3 Craughwell Bridge Galway M 511 199 Dunkellin 17th C C4 Lennox’s Bridge Leitrim G 816 574 Drowes Late-17th C C5 Bunlahinch Clapper Bridge Mayo L 754 759 Bunleemshough Med. or 19th C C6 Abbeytown Bridge Roscommon G 807 028 Boyle Water 1200 C7 New Bridge Sligo G 693 360 Garavoge 1680 M1 Killaloe Bridge Clare R 705 730 Shannon 17th C part M2 O’ Brien’s Bridge Clare R 664 669 Shannon 1695 M3 Aghakista Bridge Cork V 684 464 17th C M4 Ballingeary Clapper Bridges Cork W 147 666 Lee 17th C? M5 Buttevant Clapper Bridge Cork R 543 079 Awbeg Med? M6 Buttevant Old Bridge Cork R 544 093 Awbeg 1250 + 1765 M7 Carrigadrohid Bridge Cork R 414 234 Lee Late-17th C M8 Castletownroche Bridge Cork R 685 024 Awbeg Med. part M9 Glanworth Bridge Cork R 759 040 Funsion c1625 M10 Kilcummer Bridge Cork R 691 005 Awbeg c1650 M11 South Gate Bridge Cork W 673 715 Lee 1713

NO. BRIDGE COUNTY LOCATION RIVER DATE M12 Cromwell’s Bridge Kerry R 082 094 Finnish 1700 M13 Adare Bridge Limerick R 470 466 Maigue 1410 M14 Askeaton Bridge Limerick R 342 503 Deel 14/15th C M15 Ardfinnan Bridge Tipperary S 083 176 Suir 16th C M16 Athassel Bridge Tipperary S 012 364 13th C M17 Barry’s Bridge Tipperary S 129 587 Suir 1650 M18 Holycross Bridge Tipperary S 090 541 Suir 1625 (1410) M19 Old Bridge Tipperary S 399 216 Suir 1447 M20 Sir Thomas’ Bridge Tipperary S 239 229 Suir 1690 M21 Watergate Bridge Tipperary S 209 348 Clashawley 1500 M22 Clonmel Bridge Waterford S 202 222 Suir c1350 M23 John’s Bridge Waterford S 608 120 John’s 1650 + 1765 M24 King John’s Bridge, Curraghmore Waterford S 438 155 1205 M25 Tallow Bridge Waterford W 999 943 Bride c1700 L1 Leighlinbridge Bridge Carlow S 691 654 Barrow 14th C L2 Crooked Bridge Dublin O 036 248 Camac 17th C L3 Gormanstown Bridge Dublin O170 658 Devlin 13/14th C L4 Grace Dieu Bridge Dublin O 178 523 15th C L5 King John’s Bridge Dublin O 040 343 Griffeen 13th C L6 Lissenhall Bridge Dublin O 186 482 Broadmeadow 16th C L7 Milltown Bridge Dublin O 168 302 Dodder 17th C L8 Roganstown Bridge Dublin O150 502 Broadmeadow 16/17th C L9 Carragh Bridge Kildare N 853 208 Liffey 1656 L10 Harristown Old Bridge Kildare N 877 095 Liffey 17th C L11 Blackfriars Bridge Kilkenny S 503 562 Breagagh 1633 L12 Irishtown Bridge Kilkenny S 504 563 Breagagh 16th C? + 1759 L13 Tower Bridge (Jenkinstown) Kilkenny S 490 636 Dinin 1647 L14 Ballykilcavan Bridge Laois S 596 972 Stradbally 1713 L15 Monks Bridge Laois S 412 832 Nore 13th C L16 Watercastle Bridge Laois S 425 805 Nore 15/16th C L17 Clynan Bridge Longford N 214 586 Inny 1700 L18 Bellews Bridge Louth J 019 099 Creggan 1674 L19 Babes Bridge Meath N 892 700 Boyne 13th C L20 Bective Bridge Meath N 859 598 Boyne Med? L21 Kilcarn Bridge Meath N 884 655 Boyne 16th C L22 Kinnegad Bridge Meath N 601 452 Kinnegad 1670 L23 Mabes Bridge Meath N 736 744 Blackwater 13th C L24 Newtown Bridge Meath N 815 568 Boyne c1450 L25 Slane Bridge Meath N 963 736 Boyne 14th C part L26 St. Mary Magdelene Bridge Meath O 050 685 Nanny 12/13th C L27 Trim Bridge Meath N 801 570 Boyne 1393

NO. BRIDGE COUNTY LOCATION RIVER DATE L28 Bridge Street Bridge Offaly N 059 047 Camcor 1660 L29 Abbey Bridge Wexford S 796 099 Tintern Stream 1567 L30 Bachelor’s Walk Bridge Wicklow T 316 940 Leitrim 1690, widened L31 Clara Bridge Wicklow T 169 921 Avonmore 1680 L32 Leabeg Bridge Wicklow O 296 063 1700

M15. Ardfinnan Bridge carries the R655 across the River Suir in the small township of Ardfinnan which is about 15 kilometres south-west of Clonmel. It comprises 13 arches, of rather irregular shape, varying between semi-circular and segmental and of differing heights, with cut-stone V-cut-waters on the west, upstream face only. There are three dry flood arches at the south end, and a segmental arch over a millstream at the north end. Most of the fabric on both faces is limestone rubble, but the voussoirs and soffits are dressed, indeed the latter are ashlar, as can be seen in the photograph alongside. The bridge has been approximately doubled in width, with the extension made downstream, to the east. The shape, and ashlar pattern have been accurately preserved for this arch, and the shape pattern of the arches viewed from this direction suggests that this must be true for all 13. The original bridge was probably around 3.5m wide, and it is now around 7.5m wide. The original is quite hard to date, but I doubt if it is medieval, so would suggest the 16th century at the very earliest; the widening took place c1800. Access is better downstream, from where the view includes a fine castle, but is somewhat blighted by a heavy pipe attached to the bridge. I have not used this view because it shows the 18th century modification.

M22. Clonmel Bridge is in a sizeable town of the same name, about 40 kilometres north-west of Waterford sitting on the River Suir, which splits here forming Suir Island. The main part of the 13th century town, is north of the river, linked to an island by the bridge under discussion. Other relatively modern bridges carry roads south from the island; in total there may be 13 river arches, and O’Keeffe suggests that excavation might reveal old flood arches in causeways leading onto the bridges. The Old Bridge comprises the 3 northern-most visible arches, which are segmental, if variable, in shape and rubble built. As built, the bridge spanned a total of 24m and was 5.4m wide. It was widened by 2.7m in the mid-18th century, and the whole upper part, above bands on each face, has clearly been rebuilt more recently. There are massive triangular cutwaters, upstream (in the upper photograph) and downstream, 3m long and capped at parapet level. The latter do not cover the full faces of the piers presumably because of the widening, of which unfortunately there is no evidence in the cemented soffits. O’Keeffe advocates a mid-14th century build-date mainly because the piers are very thick, 3.5m, compared with the arch spans, 5.4m, and I go along with that even though little of the visible fabric, apart maybe from the cutwaters, dates from then. Access is good to view each face of the bridge.

L1. Leighlinbridge Bridge links the two parts of the small town of the same name across the River Barrow; it is north-east of Kilkenny City about half-way to Carlow. There are a total of 9 essentially flattish segmental arches, though the shapes are a bit variable, while they range in span between 3 and 9m; the total length is approximately 70m. There have been two widening operations, disguised in the soffits by the application of cement, but obvious when the original downstream face in the upper photograph is compared with the downstream face shown below it. With a caution, because the dimensions taken from O’Keeffe can be read in different ways, it seems that the original bridge was 3.9m wide, increased to 7.5m in 1789, and then increased by around 1m, by corbelling outwards, with metal railings replacing a stone parapet. The fabric of the original face is rubble with dressed voussoirs in single flush arch rings, but all is ashlar on the more modern face, including the cutwaters which mirror those on the downstream face in shape. There is copious documentation around bridges on this site dating back to the 14th century, and an information plaque on it suggests that the downstream face dates back to then. However O’Keeffe argues convincingly that the arch shapes and relatively narrow piers do not support such early origins, and settles on c1650 as most likely. Access is good, and the bridge in its setting with the nearby ruined castle is a compelling sight.

L11. Blackfriars Bridge crosses the Breagagh River a little upstream from Irishtown Bridge, near the centre of Kilkenny City. It comprises 3 segmental arches, and is built of limestone rubble save that the voussoirs forming single flush arch rings are shaped and dressed. The two faces look different, and not just because of the absence of cutwaters downstream, but because the grade of the stone on the upstream face, shown below, is significantly smaller than that used upstream. The dressed copings on the upstream parapets also contrast with the roughly cut blocks used downstream. The bridge is approximately 15m long, and the width between the parapets is around 7m. The differences between the two faces suggest that the bridge might have been widened, but the soffits provide no back-up for this, nor does the Listing make any such assertion. The bridge is dated there to 1633. Access is fairly good upstream, but poorer at the other face where there is thick foliage.

L12 Irishtown Bridge, also known as Watergate Bridge, this two-arch rubble stone structure spans the River Breagach close to its confluence with the River Nore, near to the centre of Kilkenny City. As can be seen in the photograph of the downstream face below, the arches are roughly semi-circular in shape, and have single flush arch rings made from roughly dressed blocks; there is no cutwater on this face. The Listing notes that there has been a bridge on the site since the 12th century; that the present bridge contains elements of a structure built in 1352, but that it was reconstructed in 1568, and widened upstream in 1759. It is not possible to put any sort of number on the extent of the widening. It is difficult to know what to make of this in the context that the visible features of the bridge, saving perhaps the arch shape, would fit an 18th century build date better than anything earlier, so it seems most likely that both faces were rebuilt. There may be a medieval bridge somewhere across the width of the present bridge, but without a better view of the soffits, it is impossible to see joins in the stonework that might lend credence to such a view. So I place a large question mark on dating to the 16th century, far less, earlier. Access is reasonable downstream, but nothing could be seen of the upstream face, because the bridge has been extended upstream to a width of more than 15m to accommodate a small carpark above it.

L13. Tower Bridge (Jenkinstown) across the River Dinin has been bypassed on a minor road to the west of the N78, north of Kilkenny. The name refers to a turreted lodge erected nearby in 1825, around the same time as the bridge was widened, and given balustrades of classical style. It comprises two segmental arches, together spanning approximately 30m, and made from random, squared limestone rubble. As can be seen in the photograph of the downstream face, alongside, the single flush arch rings are formed of dressed thin slices of the same material. There is no cutwater downstream. The bridge is near to 6m wide as a result of the widening exercise referred to above, and clearly visible in the lower photograph taken from upstream; something over 2m was added by suspending shallower arch extensions between the very large triangular cutwater and the abutments The fabric was similar except that the arch rings are of heavier, dressed voussoirs. The Listing dates the original narrow bridge to 1647 in accordance with a plaque. Access is quite difficult and foliage downstream obscures the original face of the bridge.

L30. Batchelor’s Walk Bridge crosses the Leitrim River in the heart of Wicklow, and comprises 7 segmental arches, spanning a total of approximately 55m. The bridge is of the order of 7m wide now, but the view alongside taken of the newer north face shows that it has been at least doubled in width, essentially by building another bridge alongside the original. This face looks fairly modern with the rusticated coursed rubble stone-work, dressed voussoirs in the single arch rings, and the decorative horizontal band course above the arches. The downstream, south face shown below is the original, and while all the arches are segmental in this elevation, it is clear that there is considerable variation in shape, with one near semi-circular. The fabric is of random, fine grade rubble, and the flush arch rings are made up of thin slices at most coursely dressed. There are triangular cutwaters on each face, capped lower on the newer north face. The Listing states that the original narrow bridge was built in c1690, and widened in 1862, and I have no reason to doubt these estimates. Access can be gained to view most features of the bridge.

L31. Clara Bridge carries a minor road across the River Avonmore, north from the R755, several kilometres north-west of Rathdrum. As shown in the lower photograph, taken from upstream, it comprises 6 near-elliptical or 3-centred, arches of uneven spans ranging between 4.2m and 6.3m which with the piers add up to a total length of 41m. The fabric is of fine random rubble throughout, but the single flush arch rings are formed from dressed thin slices. The roadway is 3.15m wide between rubble parapets coped with thin slices; they may have been rebuilt, as their coloration looks distinct from the rest of the bridge. It is clear from the view of the soffits alongside that the bridge has not been widened. There are triangular cutwaters upstream, capped at roadway level, but none downstream. As regards the build-date, The Irish Listing estimates 1680, while unusually O’Keeffe is slightly more cautious, offering c1700. The bridge is accessible allowing views of each face, and it is undoubtedly picturesque in its setting.