O'Connell Bridge

O'Connell Bridge Droichead Uí Chonaill
O'Connell Bridge viewed from upstream
Other name(s)	Carlisle Bridge
Crosses	River Liffey
Locale	Dublin
Designer	James Gandon
Material	Granite, portland stone
Total length	~45m
Width	~50m
Number of spans	3
Construction begin	1791 (reconstruction commenced 1877)
Construction end	1794 (reconstruction completed 1882)
Coordinates	53°20′50″N 6°15′33″W / 53.3473°N 6.2591°W / 53.3473; -6.2591Coordinates: 53°20′50″N 6°15′33″W / 53.3473°N 6.2591°W / 53.3473; -6.2591

O'Connell Bridge (Irish: Droichead Uí Chonaill) is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, and joining O'Connell Street to D'Olier Street, Westmoreland Street and the south quays.

History

The original bridge (named Carlisle Bridge for the then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland - Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle) was designed by James Gandon, and built between 1791 and 1794.^[1]

Originally humped,^[1] and narrower, Carlisle bridge was a symmetrical, three semicircular arch structure constructed in granite with a Portland stone balustrade and obelisks on each of the four corners.^[2] A keystone head at the apex of the central span symbolises the River Liffey, corresponding to the heads on the Custom House (also designed by James Gandon) which personify the other great rivers of Ireland.

Since 1860, (following similar work on Essex Bridge - now Grattan Bridge), to improve the streetscape and relieve traffic congestion on the bridge, it was intended to widen Carlisle Bridge to bring it to the same width as 70 metres (230 ft) wide Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street) which formed the north side carriageway connection to the Bridge.^[2] In 1877-1880 the bridge was reconstructed. As can be seen on orthophotography ^[3] it spans now 45 m of the Liffey and is about 50 m wide. O'Connell Bridge is said to be unique in Europe as the only traffic bridge as wide as it is long.^{[citation needed]}

When the bridge was reopened c.1882 it was renamed for Daniel O'Connell when the statue in his honour was unveiled.

In recent years, the lamps that graced the central island have been restored to their five lantern glory. In 2004, a pair of pranksters installed a plaque on the bridge dedicated to Father Pat Noise, which remained unnoticed until May 2006,^[4] and is still there as of October 2010.

Carlisle Bridge, c. 1870s

19th century print of Carlisle Bridge and Sackville Street

Notes

• There are actually two O'Connell bridges in Dublin. The other spans the pond in St. Stephen's Green.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Archiseek.com - O'Connell Bridge entry
2. ^ ^{a b} "Project history of Dublin’s River Liffey bridges" Bridge Engineering 156 Issue BE4, Phillips & Hamilton
3. ^ Shop.osi.ie mapviewer
4. ^ The Father Pat Noise Memorial

External links and sources

• Webcam directed at O'Connell Bridge
• Another webcam focused on the bridge. Features realtime streaming
• O'Connell Bridge at Structurae