Bridge in Carrick, County Donegal

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Single-arch former railway accommodation bridge, built c. 1863, carrying farm access road over the former Strabane to Stranorlar section of the Derry (Victoria Road) to Killybegs railway line. Rock-faced squared and coursed rubble stone battered piers to either side of bridge, flanking arch. Railway lines now out of use with tracks removed (c. 1960). Segmental-headed arch having rock-faced voussoirs with drafted margins; squared rubble stone construction to arch barrel. Squared and coursed rubble stone construction to spandrels and parapets; rock-faced quoins to base of arch having drafted margins. Roughly squared and coursed rubble limestone masonry to parapets with rock-faced coping over. Parapets now overgrown. Mud deck with vegetation to centre and margins. Located to the west of Castlefinn, and a short distance to the north of the River Finn.

This former railway accommodation bridge retains its original form and character despite the closure of the railway line in 1960. The good-quality rock-faced masonry used in the construction of the arch and as the coping to the parapets is a typical feature of Victorian railway engineering and architecture in Ireland. The contrast between the grey limestone dimension stone to the parapets and the red sandstone to the rock-faced voussoirs creates an interesting textural and tonal contrast. It survives in relatively good condition, which is testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the ambitions of the railway company involved in its initial construction. This bridge was originally built to serve the Strabane to Stranorlar section of the Derry (Victoria Road) to Killybegs railway line, which was opened in September 1863 by the Finn Valley Railway Company. It was originally a narrow gauge railway line but it was later converted to the standard Irish gauge (5 foot 3-inches) in 1894. The railway line was completed as far as Killybegs in 1893. This section between Strabane and Stranorlar was finally closed to passengers on the first of January 1960, and to goods a few weeks later. This particular bridge was originally built as an accommodation bridge to facilitate access to a farm house that formerly stood to the south side of the bridge (no longer extant) that was cut off from the main road to the north following the completion of the railway line. This former railway forms part of a group of structures associated with this railway line in the area, and is an integral element of the built heritage and transport history of the east of the county.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 40907928

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Picture notes

Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Richard Webb, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
Kenneth Allen, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.
Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.
Kenneth Allen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Standing stone in Carrick (killygordon Ed)Standing stone · 422 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Carrick is sitting right next to the River Finn. I wonder if the river got a bit too playful and washed it into the stream! It might be tumbling along underwater, looking very surprised.

Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Carrick (killygordon Ed)Fairy fort / stone ringfort · 478 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Carrick sits on a clay-covered rock outcrop with walls still standing at 75cm high. It commands an ancient routeway and the River Finn, which is basically a boss level waiting for you to spot the trap.

Fairy fort / ringfort in Carrick (killygordon Ed)Fairy fort / ringfort · 482 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / ringfort in Carrick has vanished completely from the River Finn flood plain. It’s just excellent pasture now, which is a bit cheeky for a supposed fortress to turn into a cow paddock. I’m guessing it was always more about the good grass than the defensive stone.

stables948 yd

Explorer Tom Stables in Carrick has a loading bay upstairs and stone steps to a rear upper doorway. The building had a lot of ways to move things between levels. I hope nobody asked a horse to carry the hay up those steps without a very good argument.

Donaghmore Presbyterian ChurchChurch/chapel · 985 yd

Explorer Tom Donaghmore Presbyterian Church has a tapestry of a burning bush right behind the pulpit! I bet the preacher had to shout extra loud just so the flames didn’t hear him, or maybe he used it as a very dramatic curtain.

St. Patrick's Church of Ireland ChurchSexton's house, house · 1027 yd

Explorer Tom St. Patrick's Church of Ireland Church here was likely built as a sexton’s house next to the church boundary wall. It’s got some modern alterations but keeps its appeal, so take a look at that historic connection for me.

McBride’s BarPub · 1.4 mi

Explorer Tom McBride’s Bar is looking south at Sandy Road, which sounds like a beach but feels like a trap set by gulls. I bet the pints are served in thimbles to save money for the cow that tried to buy it. Mind the nettles, they're the real guards here.

Children's playground1.6 miComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Children's playground in County Donegal is just a collection of plastic and regret waiting to happen. I think the seesaw is a time machine if you bounce at exactly four o'clock. Take a mate and argue about what it was originally built for.

Carnowen HillMountain / peak · 1.9 mi

Explorer Tom Carnowen Hill in County Donegal is the subject of constant seagull gossip, with them whispering about whether it’s peaked or just a big mound. They’re not sure either. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now, don't overthink the bird chatter.

Crossy HillMountain / peak · 2.8 miComputer-made picture

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Battlefield in Cloghfin (castlefin Ed)Battlefield · 3.1 mi

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PalaceHouse, fortified house · 5.1 mi

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