Ireland's Most Interesting Bridges

Stonewolf · 24-08-2010 12:42AM

unit 1 wrote: »

Ahem, I'm sure Bertie would'nt forgive us if we forgot to mention this one, courtesy of his friend Harry Blaney:rolleyes:

yeah but what does it look like side on because all these shallow angle shots make the hump look far more pronounced.

Said hump is, I would imagine for boats.

Zebra3 · 24-08-2010 02:00AM

Stonewolf wrote: »

Seriously, the Westlink is an absolute disgrace. It is without doubt the absolute single worst bridge in the nation.

Correction.

Worst two bridges.

Harps · 24-08-2010 03:16AM

A better pic of the Blaney Bridge

It basically looks like a smaller, uglier and more pointless version of the Foyle Bridge just across the border in Derry.

And yes, the hump is to allow boats to pass underneath

strassenwo!f · 25-08-2010 10:31AM

Excellent thread which I hope will run and run. Great stuff by all the contributors.

I can't contribute a picture yet, but I hope to soon. There's one I'd like to take of a nice bridge on the edge of the Avondale estate in County Wicklow, a simple enough structure on the Wicklow - Arklow bit of the railway where it passes over either the Avonmore or Avonbeg river (I can't remember which). Surely one of the most beautiful stretches of railway in the country.

There's also the one which was depicted in the film "Michael Collins" in the part where Collins meets Ned Broy (his agent inside Dublin Castle). I think that's the railway bridge near Julianstown in County Meath, but I've never been sure.

nilhg · 25-08-2010 10:51AM

Stonewolf wrote: »

yeah but what does it look like side on because all these shallow angle shots make the hump look far more pronounced.

Said hump is, I would imagine for boats.

I think it sits well into the landscape, the shape is sympathetic with its environs,
have a look here (it's the large size, you'll have to scroll around abit to find the bridge) see if you agree.

Poster King · 25-08-2010 11:06AM

This was posted in another thread a few weeks ago:
Spectacle Bridge, Lisdoonvarna
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markwaters/22110342/

Stonewolf · 25-08-2010 11:15AM

nilhg wrote: »

I think it sits well into the landscape, the shape is sympathetic with its environs,
have a look here (it's the large size, you'll have to scroll around abit to find the bridge) see if you agree.

Yeah, I thought it was nice enough, I think people just concentrate on that shallow angle photo too much.

Judgement Day · 25-08-2010 10:08PM

Another aqueduct I'm afraid and this time near to home and, surprisingly, never used. It was built in the 1860s to carry water to Lett's Mill Park Brewery in Enniscorthy but due to problems with a landowner along the route it was never brought into use. The aqueduct remains to this day, a monument to intransigence. It has a name but I'm damned if I can remember it.

unit 1 · 25-08-2010 10:23PM

Here's one from Mayo. Achill swing bridge (it swings in the middle).
Apparently inspired by a whales skeleton. Upon completion a problem with the top steel welds failing resulted in the addition of clothes lines either side, but you cant see them in this photo.
Achill-Sound-Bridge[1].jpg

Bodan · 25-08-2010 10:31PM

The Suir Bridge, Waterford. The 230 metre main span is the longest single bridge span in Ireland.

Judgement Day · 25-08-2010 10:40PM

Am I right in thinking that this is the third of these cable-stayed bridges in Ireland - the first being the Dundrum Luas bridge and the second the new Boyne bridge?

kranbo · 25-08-2010 10:46PM

never thought i was into bridges etc but have to say i found the thread very interesting and informative

Bodan · 25-08-2010 10:49PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that this is the third of these cable-stayed bridges in Ireland - the first being the Dundrum Luas bridge and the second the new Boyne bridge?

IIRC, Yeah. It opened in October 2009, just before the Samuel Beckett Bridge which opened two months later.

Lifelike · 25-08-2010 10:53PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that this is the third of these cable-stayed bridges in Ireland - the first being the Dundrum Luas bridge and the second the new Boyne bridge?

Isn't the Samuel Beckett Bridge a cable-stayed bridge?

ardmacha · 25-08-2010 11:05PM

I propose the Bleach Green viaduct. This was built in 1933 to take the railway (to Coleraine/Derry) out of Belfast. The original route hadn't tackled the steep ascent but had kept more to the coast. The concrete construction makes this different from the 19th century works.

Judgement Day · 25-08-2010 11:22PM

ardmacha - you beat me to it again. That is one nice pic. Here is one that you can buy on eBay (a modern reprint) but quite nice all the same.

Stonewolf · 25-08-2010 11:47PM

That's a nice one.

Even better, I just looked at this on google maps and it's part of a grade separated junction!

P_1 · 26-08-2010 12:06AM

May I propose the Balbriggan Viaduct?

I pass over it at least 10 times a week.

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.balbriggan.net/images/viaduct.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.balbriggan.net/RailwayTrevor.htm&usg=__1AenOj-8T0j_OB70BE27x5p9vq8=&h=218&w=400&sz=21&hl=en&start=0&sig2=cSHMQGGePEgEKZaqNgLz0g&zoom=1&tbnid=3IxakjL_6dZcNM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=162&ei=gaF1TIXtJpXNjAe07I3qBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblabriggan%2Bviaduct%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D593%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=109&vpy=131&dur=415&hovh=144&hovw=265&tx=139&ty=70&oei=gaF1TIXtJpXNjAe07I3qBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

P_1 · 26-08-2010 12:15AM

Another interesting one is the Malahide Viaduct.

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.balbriggan.net/images/viaduct.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.balbriggan.net/RailwayTrevor.htm&usg=__1AenOj-8T0j_OB70BE27x5p9vq8=&h=218&w=400&sz=21&hl=en&start=0&sig2=cSHMQGGePEgEKZaqNgLz0g&zoom=1&tbnid=3IxakjL_6dZcNM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=162&ei=gaF1TIXtJpXNjAe07I3qBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblabriggan%2Bviaduct%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D593%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=109&vpy=131&dur=415&hovh=144&hovw=265&tx=139&ty=70&oei=gaF1TIXtJpXNjAe07I3qBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Lately I have noticed that they seem to be in the process of building a second span to the West of it at the moment.

dowlingm · 26-08-2010 04:16AM

pithater you sneaky dog you

for those who don't get it, click on the Balbriggan viaduct link, then scroll to the end, read the last para. and then the author's name. :rolleyes:

Amtmann · 26-08-2010 06:15PM

This is a very old bridge, located on the River Suir in the village of Golden between Cashel and Tipperary town. A ruined Norman fortress stands beside the bridge where, reputedly, in 1690 King William III renewed the Royal Charter of the City of Cashel (I have not been able to verify this though beyond wikipedia).

Amtmann · 26-08-2010 06:34PM

I'm going to include this tiny bridge simply because of its age. It dates from around 1200, and is located in a field about 3km from Golden off the N74.

This is the view of the priory. It is a vast complex, and the bridge is visible in the center left of the photo:

The stream that ran beneath the bridge is now dry. Here is a view from the river bed looking up at one of the arches of the bridge (the stone work is original):

Just beyond the bridge this is the view into the priory:

It is filled with effigies, spiral stair cases, arches, alters, and magnificent medieval architecture. All in a field, all free to visit and wander around. Also, a great place to go to at dusk for a deliciously creepy experience.

westtip · 26-08-2010 08:36PM

JD congrats on starting a great thread - It makes me want to do a Bridge tour of Ireland.

Judgement Day · 26-08-2010 09:05PM

westtip wrote: »

JD congrats on starting a great thread - It makes me want to do a Bridge tour of Ireland.

It's had a disastrous effect on me, as it has reawakened my T&D interest in a big way. I've just embarked on buying copies of all the books/mags etc about the railway which I had god rid of on eBay over the last few years!

DWCommuter · 26-08-2010 11:05PM

ardmacha wrote: »

I propose the Bleach Green viaduct. This was built in 1933 to take the railway (to Coleraine/Derry) out of Belfast. The original route hadn't tackled the steep ascent but had kept more to the coast. The concrete construction makes this different from the 19th century works.

Absolutely beautiful! I see they cleaned it up.

Paparazzo · 27-08-2010 12:10AM

Here's a couple:
Tassagh Rail viaduct, Antrim:

Glendun Viaduct, Antrum:

ardmacha · 27-08-2010 01:14AM

Tassagh Rail viaduct, Antrim:

Tassagh, Co Armagh perhaps?
This was built in 1908 or so, as this was the last broad gauge line to open.

Sponge Bob · 27-08-2010 03:46PM

The Omey Island 'Bridge' in Connemara

JackM_79 · 27-08-2010 04:18PM

Great thread guys, just a couple of the Barrow Bridge. A mate of mine whos an electrician spent part of his apprentiship here maintaining the motors. The original motors are still in place and working perfectly after over 120 years of service.

83861

Stonewolf · 27-08-2010 04:52PM

As a matter of interest what kind of motors does it have?

Ireland's Most Interesting Bridges

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