bridge

Single-arch former railway bridge, built c. 1905, carrying road over former Donegal Town to Ballyshannon narrow gauge railway line. Railway lines now out of use with tracks removed (c. 1960); arch infilled to the south-east elevation. Squared mildly rock-faced rubble stone construction to spandrels and abutments. Round-headed arch with chamfered cut stone voussoirs to arch and with squared coursed masonry to arch barrel. Squared and roughly coursed rubble stone parapets with stone coping over; parapets now largely overgrown. Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located a short distance to the south-west of Ballintra.

Although now out of use with the arch infilled to the south-east, this former railway bridge retains much of its original form and character despite the closure of the line in 1960. The good-quality mildly rock-faced masonry (local sandstone) used in its construction is typical of late Victorian and Edwardian railway engineering and architecture in Ireland. It survives in relatively good condition, which is testament to the quality of its original construction. It was originally built by the Donegal Railway Company as part of the Donegal Town to Ballyshannon narrow gauge railway line, which opened in September 1905 and closed completely on January 1st 1960. This railway bridge forms part of a group of structures associated with this former narrow gauge railway line in the Ballintra/Rossnowlagh area and is an integral element of the built heritage and transport history of County Donegal.