Bridge in Ratharney

Single-arch road bridge over small unnamed river or stream (tributary of the River Inny), built c. 1810. Rubble stone abutments, spandrel walls and parapet walls. Some concrete repairs to abutments and arch barrel. Rounded rendered coping over parapet walls, and stile with flight of cut limestone steps built into southeast parapet wall. Roughly dressed and squared voussoirs to round-headed arch; roughly dressed limestone masonry to arch barrel. Located adjacent to holy well on country road. Stile to southeast gives access to two adjacent holy wells (LF023-103001-; LF023-103002-), one of which is set in modern concrete enclosure/well house with flat concrete roof. Located along a small country road to the southwest of Legan and to the north of Abbeyshrule.

Despite some limited modern repairs, this modest single-arch road bridge retains its early character and form. Simple single-arch bridges of this type are a feature of the rural Irish landscape but the majority of these have been altered in road-widening schemes etc. over the years, which makes this a relatively rare intact example. The simple form of this road bridge is enhanced by the textural variation created by the rubble stone spandrel walls and parapets with the dressed limestone voussoirs to the single small arch. The bridge serves as a reminder of the quality of the engineering and local craftsmen's skills. It probably dates to the late- eighteenth or the early-nineteenth century, a period that saw a great deal of bridge building in Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). The cut stone stile built into the parapet wall to the southeast corner is an interesting feature that adds further interest. This feature gives access to two holy wells associated with St. Columbkille, which attests to a long standing social importance of this location. This simple bridge is an attractive feature in the landscape to the southwest of Legan, and adds historic incident to its pleasant rural location