Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about the historic bridge of Rathkeale; 'The bridge is mentioned in 1655 as being in the possession of M. Harbart who also owned the castle (Westropp 1906-7, 214). Lewis (1837, ii, 499) notes that it was 'in a delapidated and dangerous state'. The present two-part remains probably incorporate the medieval bridge. The original width of the bridge was 4.7m which was subsequently widened to 7.8m. It is built of rubble limestone. The central arches were re-faced but traces of the original arches with wicker work centering can be seen in two round arches on either side of the river and in the central arch' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 219).
Deel Bridge described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a; ‘Five-arch humpback road bridge, originally built c. 1747, carrying a road over the River Deel. Bridge incorporates earlier fabric. Rubble stone walls with segmental arches having cut stone voussoirs rubble stone V-cutwaters with rendered plinths’ (www.buildingsofireland.ie; Reg. No. 21831007).

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

References

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Limerick (3 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.