Altnapaste Bridge

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.