Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

Moland’s map of Ennis (1703) shows a bridge crossing the River Fergus on the site of the present Club Bridge. Ó Dálaigh (1987, 14) suggests that since there is no mention of the bridge in either Brigdall’s or Dineley’s accounts in the 1680s it must have been erected subsequently. This bridge opened up the friary precinct to through traffic and connected the urban district with the townland of Lifford on the N bank of the Fergus. The bridge allowed the old river crossing at Clonroad (CL033-085003-) to be bypassed and facilitated traffic from Galway and north Clare entering the town. (Ó Dálaigh 2012, 5). It was demolished in 1835 (Bradley, Halpin and King 1988, 54). The present bridge is named ‘St. Connell’s Abbey Bridge’ on an Ordnance Survey town plan of 1841, ‘New Bridge’ on an estate map of 1842, and ‘Ennis Bridge’ on a drainage and navigation map of the Fergus district in 1848 (maps, Ó Dálaigh 2012).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 19 May 2014

References

Ó Dálaigh, B. 2012 Irish Historic Towns Atlas, No. 25. Ennis. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin.

Ó Dálaigh, B. 1987 Thomas Moland's survey of Ennis, 1703. The Other Clare 11, 12-17.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H.A. 1988 Urban archaeological survey - county Clare. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.