Rock Well Bridge

A nineteenth-century bridge over the Shannon which probably had its origins in the seventeenth century and has been greatly altered since. The Urban Survey of Killaloe (Bradley et. al. 1988, 96-7) refer to an early plank bridge at this location which was utilised during Brian Boru's lifetime (pre-1014). They also refer to a 'droichet' built by Toirdelbach Ua Briain in 1071 (ibid.). According to an entry in the Annals of Innisfallen in 1071 a bridge, presumably wooden, was built at Killaloe in a fortnight (Simington and O'Keeffe 1991, 59). In 1599 Hugh O Donnell destroyed the bridge at Killaloe (Bradley et. al. 1988, 96-7). Clearly it had not been replaced by the mid-seventeenth century for it is not referred to in a diary of a Parliamentary officer though the ford there is referenced (Gilbert 1879-80, iii, 227, 235). It must have been replaced shortly after as it described in the Civil Survey of 1654-6 as a bridge crossing the river of Shannon to Killaloe (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 163). This may have been a temporary structure as it is not depicted on Moll's map of 1714 which shows a ferry crossing at the site. The bridge is drawn on Taylor and Skinner's map of 1778. The bridge (as described in a plan of 1837) consisted of fifteen segmental arches with an average width 20ft (6m), though five at the centre of the bridge are 40ft (12m) wide. The roadway was 18ft (5.5m) wide between the stone parapet walls. There were triangular cutwaters fore and aft coped with semi-pyramidal cappings, except for eleven that were brought up to parapet level to form pedestrian refuges. Cross-referenced with TN025-094001-. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In this instance the entry has been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revised upload: 27 November 2017