Note 03 · Over water
Bridges of Ireland
From a pedestrian arch on the Liffey to steel cables above the Boyne, the country's bridges are both boundaries and landmarks. Here are the most striking ones, and how to see them without ruining your journey.
City bridges
Dublin has the greatest concentration of both historic and modern bridges. They stand on the Liffey between the quays, and many of them can be seen from one street to the next.
Ha'penny Bridge
A cast-iron pedestrian arch that opened in 1816, and one of the city's best-known symbols. It carries no vehicle traffic at all; it is a footpath between two quays. It is worth looking at from the side, especially when the lights are on in the evening.
Samuel Beckett Bridge
A cable-stayed bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that opened in 2009. It is shaped like a harp, which is clearly visible from the side. It stands near the docklands, where there are long walks.
The M50 bridge over the Liffey
It carries the heaviest traffic in the country, because it carries the M50. It is not a decorative bridge but part of the motorway, and you may not stop on it. It can be seen from the quays upstream and from local roads on either bank.
Bridges on the major roads
A number of large bridges appear on the national roads, and they are significant milestones of a journey. They are visible from the road itself, but you often cannot stop safely beside them.
| Bridge | Road | Why it is known |
|---|---|---|
| Mary McAleese Bridge, River Boyne | M1 | A cable-stayed bridge near Drogheda, on the route between Dublin and the border. |
| River Suir Bridge | N25 | Cable-stayed, near Waterford; part of the city bypass. |
| Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge | N25 | The New Ross bypass over the Barrow; one of the longest bridges in the country. |
| Athlone Bridge | N6 | The bridge on the Athlone bypass over the Shannon, on the way west to Galway. |
| The Quincentennial Bridge, Galway | N6 | A modern arch over the Corrib on the Galway bypass. |
Remember that not every cable-stayed bridge is open to the public on foot. Some of them carry a motorway, and walking on them is not allowed.
Bridges that are places in themselves
Bridges are not only useful for crossing a river; they are often viewpoints. Here are a few places where you can stop safely near a bridge:
- The Dublin quays. A view of several bridges over the Liffey if you walk upstream.
- The Drogheda bypass. A view of the Boyne and the large bridge from the local road.
- Waterford. Both banks of the Suir, with the bridges together.
- Athlone. The quays beside the river and the bypass above.
Taking a photograph safely
Do not stop on the hard shoulder to take a photograph. Use a car park with a view of the bridge, or a riverside footpath. For the bridges on the M1 and the M50, the best way to see them is from the bank or from the local road beneath them.
Remember. What causes accidents is the gap between the exit and the place you are looking at, not the bridge itself. Work out where you can see both before you stop.
Questions about this note
Short answers to the things people ask most.
Can I walk on the M50 bridge?
No. It is a motorway and pedestrians are prohibited. You can look at the structure from the quays and from local roads.
Is there a toll on these bridges?
Parts of the motorways involved are tolled, but the bridges themselves are not. See the note on road tolls.
Which is the oldest bridge in the country?
There are stone bridges far older than the Ha'penny, particularly in the countryside and at monasteries. The Ha'penny is the best known in Dublin city.
Related notes
Further reading that goes with this material.
