Bridge in Gortnaskeagh

Triple-arched bridge carrying road over the River Lurgy, built c. 1820, having V-profile coursed rubble stone cutwater to piers. Round-headed arches having dressed cut stone voussoirs. Coursed rubble stone construction to pier and spandrels. Rubble stone parapets with field stone coping over. Located in the rural countryside to the north-east of Kilmacrenan.

This appealing and elegant triple-arched road bridge retains much its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in the landscape to north-east of Kilmacrenan. This bridge is robustly-constructed in local coursed 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. The small round-headed arches with dressed stone voussoirs and the coursed rubble stone cutwaters are features of some appeal that help to elevate this bridge above many of its contemporaries in Donegal. The field stone coping over the parapets creates a picturesque feature of some rustic charm. The form of this bridge suggests that it dates to the end of the eighteenth century or to the very start of the nineteenth century, a period that witnessed a large expansion in the rural road network in Ireland - and the subsequent building of numerous bridges - which was mainly carried out by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). This appealing rustic bridge is an integral element of the built heritage and transport heritage of the local area, and makes a positive contribution to the local landscape.