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IT’S THE arching glory at the centre of Dublin, and today the Ha’penny Bridge will turn 200.
The structure has been helping Dubliners cross the River Liffey since 1816, and still looks pretty much the same as it did when it was built in Georgian Dublin.
The bridge, as anyone in the know will tell you, is officially called the ‘Liffey Bridge’ – but took on its adopted name due to the halfpenny toll that was in place for the first hundred years of its existence.
To mark the occasion, Dublin City Council is pulling out all the stops – and a ceremonial crossing of the bridge ceremony is scheduled for later today.
So what’s happening today?
In honour of its birthday, the bridge will be dressed with a fancy red carpet and floral display.
Relatives of former Lord Mayor John Claudius Beresford, the guy who commissioned the bridge, and John Windsor, the engineer who designed it, will also be putting in an appearance.
“At the time, it was at the forefront of technology and would have been a statement that Dublin was a forward looking city,” said David Windsor, great-grandson of designer John.
I’m grateful that the people of, and visitors to Dublin have taken it to their hearts and that the city of Dublin has cared for it for future generations to use and admire.
Back when the bridge was first built it was to take the place the ferry that had been used to get the city’s residents from one side of the river to the other.
Around the turn of this century, the structure was looking a bit shaky, and in 2001 a major restoration project was undertaken.
The €1.8 million restoration saw the bridge restored to its full glory.
The north-south bridge crossing will take place at 12.30pm today.
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Wow the amount of bitterness, it’s a 5 minute ceremony that probably cost €100 and will generate, media publicity and advertising. Nice to celebrate these things, it’s ok to be positive sometimes
I wonder will the toll bridge be as loved in 200 years time?
I was born near the bridge but the comments so far have put me off sharing my simple stroy
Wayne
For many on this sight positivity is a horrible concept, begrudgery and negativity are the forms, I expect a huge amount of red hands, it is after a social media site.
Don’t mind the bold boys MackPilon, let’s hear your simple story – and it better be simple!
Deborah, by that stage man will have destroyed himself and Dublin will be under 100 meters of water then?
A brilliant piece of engineering in it’s day and to stand the test of time should be an example to modern architects…..
It’s just cast iron pieces riveted together. It wasn’t terribly special then. But it looks incredible in a way right now.
Haha, nice bubble burst there Brian
Can we give the bridge a special protected status to move people from loitering/leaving cardboard there? I don’t mean to sound callous but there are plenty of other places in the city. It is one of our monuments to be fair.
I’ve literally never crossed it without a beggar in the middle. Since the homeless crisis started there’s been at least two.
That really is a case of 2+2=5. The law changed stopping the gardai from being able to stop people begging. That increased the amount of people begging way before any housing crisis. The homeless problem is not the same as people sleeping rough who mostly have issues like substance abuse
You dont nessecarily want to crimnalise begging either. On occassions though they do block a significant part of the bridge which could be a health and safety issue
They won’t need cardboard if they have carpet,
It really is ridiculous. Tourists taking pictures on it beside not one, but two homeless people asking for change.
I understand these people need help but at the same time I think something like the Ha’penny bridge should be kept clear
The homeless will love this, a red carpet!
It’s not about them.
You have a point John. The homeless probably won’t be in the mood to sing happy birthday to a bridge. It being an inanimate object and all that.
Inanimate carbon rod
Relatives of the bridge’s designer and the man who commissioned it will also … … … ???
Come on Journal, the suspense is killing me!
…be put down (like the red carpet)
….and of course all the ‘ordinary’ folk who use the bridge on a regular basis will be kept at bay while the elite get to walk the red carpet! We couldn’t allow them to sully either the carpet or the occasion by walking on it.
Little comfort to the homeless people who sit on it.
I take it Donald Trump is visiting our Capital , red carpet on the bridge , what next harps , shamrocks & leprechauns !
It was once the only bridge in Dublin that “spanned” the Liffey.
Any photo of the red carpet to go with the story about the red carpet?
Walked across it many times. It’s a handy bridge.
Here here John Campbell , a mirror image of the 1916 celebrations
It’s not wheelchair accessible but it’s still a beautiful & historic bridge.
Could we give it a lick of paint for its birthday present??
There are plenty of pictures of the 2001 restoration on the ppt link here: http://www.dit.ie/newsandevents/news/archive2016/latest/title,129779,en.html
When they “repaired” the bridge they really just replaced it with a similar design.
I am guessing people are red thumbing because they don’t believe me? The new bridge is a higher arch hence it now has steps on the bridge now. Look at the metal work and it is all new not cleaned original metal. It is a new bridge.
Like Triggers broom with its 17 heads and 14 handles
It took two years to build and cost £3894 seven Shillings and eleven pence. The lease was for 100 years .A lot of 1/2 pennies earned in 100 years .Johnny Beresford the lord mayor and Willie Walsh the ferry man were the men who promoted the building of the bridge,and some people say Hector Grays .
great grandfather had an interest in it.
And no beggers or padlocks???
I wish the council would chop off all those locks that tourists are locking to the frame and stop beggars .
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