Droichead Caiseal Charna

Triple-arched road bridge over the Ballaghdoo River, built c. 1825, having V-profile ashlar cutwaters to piers. Round-headed arches having dressed voussoirs to arch; rubble stone construction to arch barrels. Uncoursed rubble stone masonry to spandrels and parapets; cut stone coping over parapets. Parapet damaged to the south-east corner and partially rebuilt in modern blockwork. Tarmacadam deck with grass verge. Located to the south-east of An Charraig/Carrick and to the north of Cill Chartha/Kilcar.

This elegant triple-arched road bridge retains its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in the scenic landscape to the south-east of An Charraig/Carrick. It is robustly-constructed in local 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 good quality dressed stone voussoirs and the ashlar construction to the cutwaters are of a high standard, which helps to elevate this bridge above many of its contemporaries in Donegal. This bridge probably dates to the first decades of the nineteenth century, a period that witnessed a great deal of road and bridge building throughout Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the Local Authorities/County Councils). According to local information this bridge was built in the 1820s by a local family called the McGuires. The road between An Charraig/Carrick and Cill Chartha/Kilcar, on which this bridge is located, was built in 1806, and it is possible that this bridge dates to this time. This fine bridge is an integral element of the built heritage of the local area, and is a feature of some picturesque qualities in the scenic landscape.