Bridge in Abington

18th century bridge crossing the Mulkear River to the SW of Abbey Owney (LI014-014002-), 17th century bridge (LI014-014008-) located 200m to the E. Simington and O'Keeffe (1991, 200) recorded that only one bridge at Abington was depicted on Moll's map of 1714, but two bridges were depicted in 1778 on Taylor and Skinner's road map from Loughrea to Bruff which led them to suggest that the present road bridge (LI014-014008-) at Abington was constructed between these two dates. However the presence of this second bridge on the Mulkear River suggests that this structure was the new bridge built in the 18th century, while the 17th century bridge was widened at this time. A linear cropmark of a disused roadway leading to this 18th century bridge can be seen in the field to the S of the Mulkear River. The linear earthwork visible on the Digital Globe aerial photograph appears to be the remains of the 18th century roadway shown on Taylor and Skinner's road map (Taylor and Skinner 1778, map No. 210). The bridge is no longer used and has concrete breakwaters with timber planks supported on iron girders when it was used as a livestock crossing. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 30 June 2017