Bridge in Drummaconor

Single-arch humpback canal bridge, built c.1838, to carry road over Ulster Canal. Round arch with tooled sandstone voussoirs. Roughly coursed squared sandstone to spandrel and parapet walls, tooled stone platband to base of parapet walls. Gunnelled squared stone to voussoirs. Towpath with tooled sandstone coping running to west abutment. Squared roughly-coursed sandstone walls having tooled stone coping to approach to bridge.

The Ulster Canal, linking Lough Neagh with Upper Lough Erne, reached Monaghan in 1838. It was intended to aid economic growth and prosperity, providing a means of goods and passenger transport in the area. The shape the arch to this bridge reflects its later date of construction, as earlier canal bridges predominantly employed the three-centred arch. Skilled craftsmanship and engineering is evident in this bridge, which is enlivened by tooled stone platbands and voussoirs. Although it is largely obscured from view today, it would originally have constituted an attractive historic landmark, and is reminiscent of the industrial heritage of County Monaghan.