HomeHistoryBridges

Waterford did not have a bridge over the Suir until 1794. The river at Waterford is wide and deep and it was regarded as a huge job to build a bridge across it.

Before 1794 access to Waterford City from many areas was by ferry. William III had granted this ferry (and fifteen others) to James Roche and by 1786 ownership had passed to Cornelius Grogan.

The principle ferries, across the Suir were those at Waterford City, Passage East and Granagh. The ferries were of great antiquity and are mentioned in the Great Parchment Book of the Waterford Corporation.

A richly significant engineering and social history attaches itself to the subject of bridges in Waterford. It is both surprising and noteworthy, for example, that no bridge existed in Waterford City until 1794. 'Timbertoes' as the first structure was affectionately known, was constructed some thirteen years after a failed proposal by Thomas Covey outlined in A scheme for building a bridge over the river Suire at the city of Waterford.

The 'John Redmond Bridge' was inaugurated in 1913, and was the replacement bridge for 'Timbertoes'. The story of this period is comprehensively covered in Edmund Downey's Waterford's Bridges (Waterford, [193?]). The 'John Redmond Bridge' lasted only seventy years however, and work commenced on the modern bridge in 1982, eventually opening opening to traffic in 1986.

Lismore Bridge, dating from 1775, and pre-dating the timber bridge in Waterford, is a particularly fine example of an Irish Stone bridge. Built on the estate of the Duke of Devonshire beneath the castle, at the time of its construction no roads existed leading to or from it. Widely represented in images illustrating both bridge and Lismore castle, its wide span and picturesque location lend it unique importance.

The construction history of the bridge in Dungarvan, built in 1813 with financial aid fro the Duke of Devonshire, is illustrative of the social and political expediency that dictated the planning and financing of projects like that in Dungarvan.

The quayside at the Port of Cappoquin is now abandoned, silted up, and strewn with Flotsam and Jetsam.  How many stout and brave vessels tied up to it's bollards, bringing prosperity and Industry to this part of the country. Ochon go deo !

In the background, the six span "Avonmore" Bridge and to the right, Cappoquin Rowing Club's Boathouse. The Blackwater is on a full tide, though, not on a Springer.

It has been suggested that a Maritime Museum be opened to preserve the history of Cappoquin Port.