Sarsfield Bridge — Limerick

Five-span limestone road bridge, built between 1824-35, spanning the River Shannon joining Sarsfield Street and Ennis Road on a southeast/northwest axis, splaying to both sides to form abutments at the junction with the Ennis Road. Span adjoining Sarsfield Street forming a steel swivel bridge, put in place in 1923, replacing an earlier swivel bridge. Parapet reconstructed c. 1975, comprising balustraded east parapet with limestone ashlar piers over bowed cutwaters, and largely solid limestone ashlars west parapet with intermediary balustraded sections. Squared and coursed tooled limestone ashlar bridge with carved profiled saddle-backed coping. Recessed panel corresponding to each limestone cutwater. Cast-iron lamp standards surmount parapet to each side. Three commemorative panels to parapet piers, one reads: 'This bridge was erected A.D. 1831 under and Act of the IV George IV: introduced into Parliament by the Right Honorable T. Spring Rice M.P. for the city of Limerick.' A second plaque reads: 'Sarsfield Bridge by authority of Parliament and through liberal grants from the Grand Juries of Limerick and Clare Alderman Jerome Counihan J.P. Mayor of Limerick 1882-1883. Was enabled to declare this bridge free of toll on Easter Monday 26 March 1883 William Boyd J.P. High Sheriff Alfred G. Wallace Sol. Town Clerk.' A third plaque reads: '1975 European Architectural Heritage Year parapets reconstructed Alderman Patrick Kennedy Mayor James Tully T.D. Minister for Local Government.' Tooled limestone ashlar voussoirs to elliptical arches, each springing from a pier with rounded cutwaters with distinctive clam-shaped limestone capping.