Bridge in Castlematrix, County Limerick

What is recorded here

The Bridge in Castlematrix, Wolfesburgess East, once carried trains over the Deel and now carries a local right of way. All that iron strength, waiting for an engine, and along comes yourself with a sandwich. It must wonder where its career went wrong.

Two-span railway bridge, built c. 1867, formerly part of the Rathkeale to Newcastle West line, now carrying a road over the River Deel. Comprising cast-iron Howe truss bridge with latticed parapets supported by rusticated limestone supports on concrete plinths. Tarred surface to carriageway.

This railway bridge was part of the Rathkeale and Newcastle Junction Railway line, which dated from 1861-67. Though no longer in use as a railway bridge, it remains an important feature in the landscape, carrying a local right of way route over the River Deel. It forms a group with the earlier stone arched bridge to the east, which carries the main road over the same river. Its use of the cast-iron Howe truss is significant technically, while the rusticated limestone piers indicates a certain decorative interest.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 21831001

This does not grant access. Most recorded buildings are privately owned; view them only from public ground unless the owner allows entry.

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Mike Searle, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Willow, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
Created by Kglavin Modified Aug 2007 by Mike Christie, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Roger McLachlan, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Vadim Manuylov, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
A.-K. D., Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fulacht fia in CastlematrixFulacht fia · 243 yd