Lacklom Bridge

Triple-arch bridge carrying road over the Ballintra River, built c. 1780, having V-profile cut stone cutwaters to central piers. North elevation now largely overgrown with vegetation. Segmental-headed arches having roughly dressed voussoirs; squared rubble stone construction to arch barrels. Projecting stones/imposts at springing points to arches. Randomly coursed rubble stone construction to spandrels, abutments and to parapets with soldier coping and rubble stone coping over. Rubble stone wing walls to either side. Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located to the north-west Ballintra.

This impressive triple-arched road bridge retains its early character and form, despite some modern alterations, and is an appealing feature in the rural landscape to the north-west of Ballintra. It is one of a number of good quality bridges spanning the Ballintra River in this part of Donegal. It is robustly-constructed in 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 V-profile cutwaters and the roughly dressed stone voussoirs to the arches are noteworthy features, while the projecting impost stones to the arch springing points are reminders of its original construction. This bridge possibly originally dates to the late-eighteenth century, a period that saw a great deal of road and bridge-building in Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). This bridge is built beside a former ford that remains in occasional use and may be of considerable antiquity. This fine bridge is an integral element of the extensive transport heritage of County Donegal, and is an addition to the built heritage of the Ballintra area.