MacNeill's Egyptian Arch

MacNeill's Egyptian Arch is a railway bridge in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland. Construction was completed in 1851 for the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Company and was the result of collaboration between engineer Sir John Macneill and constructor William Dargan. Locally known as the Egyptian Arch, the rail bridge passes over the Newry - Camlough Road. [cite web | author=WA McCutcheon | title=Macneill's Egyptian Arch | work=The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=3-96ic2OHB8C&pg=RA1-PA160&lpg=RA1-PA160&dq=macneill's+egyptian+arch&source=web&ots=yGzu1-tzhb&sig=olxOkEWjsvT9VqxkuL0NzXRdBVA | accessdate=2007-08-26]

It is located approximately 2 miles from the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on the Dublin-Belfast railway line. It is located less than 1 mile along the line from the 18 Arches viaduct, also known as the Craigmore Viaduct.

The bridge gained its name from its resemblance to a Pharaoh's head-piece. The bridge has been selected for the design of the British One Pound coin to represent Northern Ireland for 2006. All four of the bridge design pound coins for each constituent part of the UK were designed by wood engraver Edwina Ellis in a Royal Mint design competition.

The bridge was also the location of the Egyptian Arch Ambush of Monday 13 December 1920 [ [http://www.newryjournal.co.uk/content/view/563/31/ Newry Journal] ] [. [http://www.burnsmoley.com/pages/area/fourth.php Burns/Moley] ] .

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