Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

Road bridge (Wth c. 4.33m) over two channels of River Lee (water level raised in 1956 due to flooding by Lee Valley Hydro-electric Scheme), connecting Carrigadrohid and Killinardrish settlements; Carrigadrohid Castle (CO071-062001-) stands on intervening island; access to castle from bridge. Indicated on Down Survey (1655-6) map (1656); described by Civil Survey (1654-6) as timber bridge; shown in early 19th-century Du Noyer sketch as having six semicircular arches (O'Keeffe and Simington 1991, 202). Two semicircular arches over N channel look similar to arches shown on Du Noyer sketch; span of N arch 20ft, S arch 17ft (ibid., 204), rough dark sandstone voussoirs. Low pointed breakwaters, niches in piers to support centering for arch during construction. Four original semicircular stone arches over the wider S channel were swept away after floods in 1853 and replaced soon after by present wide pointed segmental arches (Wth 4.6m) with dressed red sandstone voussoirs, low pointed breakwaters; span of S arch 41ft, N arch 47ft (ibid., 203). On island the bridge is solid and archless with W side abutting castle; unusual tapering semicircular buttress (ibid., 204) on E side, topped with machicolation-like feature. Remains of small overflow arch on N bank. Bridge repaired 1988 (ibid., 204).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009