Kinnegad Bridge, County Westmeath (15316013)

Remains of multi-arch road bridge over Kinnegad River, built c.1665 and altered c.1735 and c.1840. Constructed of coursed random rubble stone with roughly dressed voussoirs to the arch. Three arches of the seventeenth century bridge survive to the southeast side of the bridge, over former river channel, with modern concrete span to the northwest, built c.1936. Cut waters rising to pedestrian refuges over to the upstream side of early bridge (west). Located to the east end of Kinnegad, straddling the border with County Meath to the east.

An interesting architectural fragment of considerable historical merit, representing an important element of the transport and civil engineering heritage of Westmeath. The small arches to the original part of the bridge (c.9 feet) are indicative of its early date. This bridge originally had between seven and nine arches, of which three now survive to the southeast side. This bridge is first mentioned in the 1660s and was altered c.1731 as part of a scheme to improve the coach road from Dublin to Kinnegad, which was described as ‘impassible in Winter’ at this time. The river channel was altered/moved to the northwest and a new bridge built in the 1840s as part of the extensive Upper Boyne District Drainage Scheme carried out by the Board of Works. This 1840s bridge was later replaced by a concrete bridge, c.1936. The remains of this bridge are an important element of the built heritage of Westmeath and act as a subtle reminder of the great age of coaching in Ireland.