Spectacle Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:	Spectacle Bridge
Crosses:	Aille River
Carries:	N67
Locale:	County Clare
Design:	Arch bridge
Designer:	John Hill
Material:	Stone
Spans:	One
Coordinates:	53.025°N -9.3071°W

The Spectacle Bridge is a bridge built in May 1816 over the Aille River in County Clare, Ireland.

History

The Spectacle Bridge was designed by County Clare's county engineer, John Hill. It spans the Aille River gorge on the road between Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon on the N67. The gorge is up to 25 metres deep at points, and a solid bridge would have been too heavy. Hill then designed a tunnel running through the centre to make the structure lighter. This design resulted in the name, the Spectacle Bridge.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} It is a single arch with cut-stone coping and voussoirs, and splayed piers.^[5]

The bridge was renovated in 2001.

Notes and References

1. News: Mulvihill . Mary . A spectacle . 21 December 2020 . The Irish Times . 2 August 2008 . en.
2. Web site: 1850 – Spectacle Bridge, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare . Archiseek - Irish Architecture . 21 December 2020 . 23 March 2014.
3. Web site: Holiday Haunts on the West Coast of Clare Ireland - Cliffs of Moher, Lisdoonvarna, Doolin . www.clarelibrary.ie . 21 December 2020.
4. Book: Mulvihill . Mary . Ingenious Ireland . 2019 . Four Courts Press . 9781846828225 . 333–334 . 2nd.
5. Web site: Spectacle Bridge, AUGHISKA BEG, Lisdoonvarna, County Clare . Buildings of Ireland . 21 December 2020.