Altnapaste Bridge, County Donegal

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Triple-arch slightly humpbacked bridge carrying road over small unnamed tributary of the River Finn, built c. 1770, having V-profile cutwaters to piers to both the upstream (north) and downstream (south) elevations. Segmental-headed arches having roughly dressed stone voussoirs; squared rubble stone construction to arch barrels; cement lined to bases of piers. Rubble stone construction to piers, abutments, and spandrels. Rubble stone construction to parapets having rubble stone\boulder coping over. Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located in the rural countryside to the west of Ballybofey. Stream flows into the River Finn a short distance to the north.

This appealing triple-arched road bridge retains its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in the scenic rural landscape to the west of Ballybofey. The rubble stone construction and the three small arches suggest that this bridge may be quite early. The cutwaters to both the upstream and downstream elevations reinforce this suggestion. The boulder coping to the parapets creates a picturesque rustic appearance. It is robustly-constructed in rubble stone masonry, and its continued survival and use stands as testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the skill of the masons involved. This bridge was probably constructed during the second half of the eighteenth century, a period that saw a great deal of road and bridge-building in Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). A bridge is depicted at this location on the Taylor and Skinner map of 1777-1783, which is probably this structure. This bridge was possibly the first bridge at this site, and may have been originally built along with the road (the original main Ballybofey to Dungloe Road, an important artery connecting the coastal communities of west Donegal to the markets and agrarian heartland of east Donegal.). This charming rustic bridge is an addition to both the built heritage of the local area and to the extensive transport heritage of County Donegal, adding interesting to the rural landscape to the west of Ballybofey.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 40907718

Places near here

Picture notes

Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Kenneth Allen, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Richard Webb, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.
Willie Duffin, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this walking route.

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in AltnapasteFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 343 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Altnapaste is basically a damp hill with a tiny sliver of bank left standing. It’s got good views, which is nice until you realize you’re just staring at wet grass and wondering where the rest of your castle went.

Fairy fort / stone ringfort in AltnapasteFairy fort / stone ringfort · 603 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Altnapaste is a D-shaped stone wall that’s been given a bit of a facelift with some trees. It sits at the foot of Altnapaste Mountain, so you can admire the 1.5m walls without having to worry about your footing on any crumbling ruins.

Saint John's Church of Ireland ChurchChurch/chapel · 1436 yd

Explorer Tom Saint John's Church of Ireland Church in Aghaveagh is a small late nineteenth-century gem with a Gothic Revival style and cusped openings. It’s dominated by a fine offset belltower with a broached spire, using high-quality masonry. The contrast between the stones is seriously striking!

Donaldson Memorial HallChurch hall/parish hall · 1454 yd

Explorer Tom Donaldson Memorial Hall in Aghaveagh is a parish hall from 1901 with coloured glass windows that probably cost more than my car. It’s got clasping buttresses and quoins that make it look like it’s hugging itself for warmth, which is fitting for Donegal weather.

Gorey HillMountain / peak · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Gorey Hill stands in County Donegal as a mountain peak with its access details completely unknown. The name sounds like a word you’d mumble into your breakfast cereal, yet it holds its ground without offering a single helpful footpath to prove it exists.

AltnapasteMountain / peak · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Altnapaste is a mountain peak where the summit offers quartzite footing and big views. Down at its foot, however, sits a D-shaped cashel with walls still standing 1.5 metres high. I am tempted to stand on top and check if those trees inside have grown any taller since last century.

Teach Tábhairne an RileánPub · 2.9 mi

Explorer Tom Teach Tábhairne an Rileán in County Donegal has a mouthful of a name. Say it three times fast for me and tell me how you feel!

Jackson's HotelHotel · 4.4 mi

Explorer Tom Jackson's Hotel claims Joe Jackson perfected Irish Coffee there in the 1940s. That’s basically yesterday! Drink one for me and pretend it tastes like victory and strong ambition.

Children's playground4.5 miComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Children's playground in County Donegal has that perfect angle for looking brooding while pretending you're thinking about philosophy. The swing chains probably rust into poetry if you listen closely enough. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed for the camera at all.

Drumboe WoodForest recreation place · 4.6 mi

Explorer Tom Drumboe Wood is a riverside walk with harder history nearby: a castle once guarded the River Finn ford, and a memorial recalls four men executed here in 1923. I would give that stone a quiet moment.

Drumboe - Loop trailOfficial walking route · 4.6 miComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Drumboe - Loop trail is barely even a loop; it’s just a very short walk with commitment issues. Nine hundred metres of pretending you’re on an expedition. Pack a picnic and an excuse for why you stopped halfway through.

Drumboe - Multi-AccessOfficial walking route · 4.6 miComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Drumboe - Multi-Access sounds fancy but it’s really just a one-kilometre shuffle with extra steps. You can enter from anywhere, which is great if you get lost immediately. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than mine, or at least a sore foot.

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