bridge

Single-span railway bridge, erected c. 1900, originally carrying Kingsbridge to Amiens Street railway line and now in use by Maynooth and Longford commuter line. Rusticated limestone abutments and piers with rusticated limestone copings, supporting box-truss steel girder superstructure and balustrade with recent signage. Battered rendered approach walls with render stringcourse and channelled pilasters. Railway station (Drumcondra) incorporated into west abutment and having flat roof concealed behind red brick parapet, red brick walling laid in Flemish bond, with cut limestone stringcourses, coping, and capping to red brick plinth course, and segmental-headed window, door and blind openings with moulded brick surrounds. Bridge crosses Drumcondra Road Lower, near junction with Clonliffe Road.

The simple form and tensile strength of the steel in this bridge allows a wider span than a masonry arch would permit, and lends the structure an industrial aspect that contrasts pleasingly with the buildings on the street. The structure displays evidence of highly skilled craftsmanship in its stone masonry, and the rustication to its abutments are finished with a straight edge fillet to the corners. It forms an interesting and highly visible feature on this busy road. A well-executed bridge, it is representative of technical skill in engineering and stone-working at the close of the nineteenth century. Forming a group with the adjacent station building, it serves as a physical reminder of the ongoing social and industrial heritage importance of the railway network in Ireland.