Indicated — Curragh (duhallow By., Clonfert Par.) ,kanturk

Bridge (Wth c. 5.5m; long axis NE-SW) over River Dalua just N of confluence with River Allow and 50m W of Greenane Bridge (14819). Known locally as "Kanturk Bridge". Road bridge of random-rubble sandstone construction with limestone detail. Six semicircular arches; a seventh on SW side now built around and not visible. Prominent voussoirs of large well-dressed limestone, prominent key stones. Base of piers constructed of ashlar limestone; two corbels in piers used to support centring during arch construction. Early illustration of bridge (O'Keeffe & Simington 1991, 249) shows a rectangular prison chamber in SW abutment with access via flat-headed door on SE side (similar matching blind door on NE side); also pair of toilets (male and female) shown in each abutment with access via ornate round-headed door opes; two square niches shown in spandrels of central arch; pointed cutwaters indicated on upstream (NW) side rise to top of parapets and form refuge niches with canopies over recesses. Parapet recesses described by Grove White (1905-25 vol. 3, 209) 'as stone roofed, the inscribed limestone...being to the front'; a verse of a poem is inscribed on each slab (ibid., 208-209); poem suggests Windmill Hill (see 15250) as quarry site for these stone slabs (O'Mahony and O Suilleabhain 1981, 2); according to local information, stones came from gazebo erected by Earl of Egmont. NW parapet and canopies removed when bridge widened and inscribed limestone slabs are reused as coping in present NW parapet wall. Parapet wall on SE side, of random-rubble sandstone with limestone slab coping, once tied with iron bars; two inscribed plaques in wall, one relates the cost of building Westminster Bridge, London and Essex Bridge, Dublin (O'Keeffe & Simington 1991, 250), the second reads 'This bridge was erected in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty, by Richard Purcell of Kanturk and Arthur Bastable of Castlebretrige, Esq., who were appointed trustees for that purpose; as they also were two of the trustees, who erected Blackwater Bridge at Gortmore in 1757"; (see 14837). Bridge widened in similar style by 4.5m on NW side in mid-19th century; six semicircular arches with remains of seventh on SW side; voussoirs of very wide well-dressed limestone blocks similar to those on widening of Greenane Bridge; low pointed breakwaters. Parapet wall to NW, of random-rubble sandstone, reuses the large inscribed limestone slabs. Single bridge indicated on Down Survey (1655-6) barony map over the two rivers, Dallua and Allow, on or near the site of the present bridges. According to local information, on site of earlier bridge which used stones from precincts of Kanturk Castle (14378); O'Mahony and O Suilleabhain (ibid.) suggest present bridge replaced earlier timber bridge. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009