Bridges of the River Liffey

Walk along the quays to cross eight distinct bridges, tracking Dublin's history from Victorian cast iron to modern steel designs.

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1. Samuel Beckett Bridge

The Samuel Beckett Bridge stretches across the River Liffey with a span shaped like a giant harp lying on its side. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the steel cables fan out from a single curved pylon that leans away from the water. In two…

2. Seán O'Casey Bridge

The Seán O'Casey Bridge is a slender, asymmetric swing bridge that cuts across the River Liffey with a distinctive, curved profile. It was designed by Cyril O'Neill to link the north and south quays for pedestrians only. Before it opened…

3. Rosie Hackett Bridge

The Rosie Hackett Bridge is defined by its wide, single span of weathered steel and its distinct, low-profile deck that sits just above the River Liffey. It serves as a dedicated crossing for public transport, cyclists, and pedestrians.…

4. O'Connell Bridge

O'Connell Bridge is the only traffic bridge in Europe that is as wide as it is long. Its distinctive elliptical curve helps it span the River Liffey at a point where the city layout demanded a square shape. While the current granite…

5. Ha'penny Bridge

The Ha'penny Bridge features three ornate cast-iron arches that rise sharply over the River Liffey. Before eighteen sixteen, Dubliners crossed the water on seven aging, dangerous ferries owned by a man named William Walsh. City officials…

6. Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge is a slender steel span crossing the River Liffey with a distinct, shallow arch that barely rises above the quay walls. It was installed in the year two thousand to mark the turn of the millennium, intended to connect…

7. Grattan Bridge

The iron lamps lining Grattan Bridge stand out for their intricate, ornate ironwork, a stark contrast to the modern traffic flowing between the north and south sides of the Liffey. Originally named Essex Bridge, it served as the primary…

8. O'Donovan Rossa Bridge

The O'Donovan Rossa Bridge is a cast-iron arch painted a distinct, bright blue that spans the River Liffey. Originally known as the Richmond Bridge when it opened in eighteen sixteen, it replaced a dilapidated wooden structure that…

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Bridges of the River Liffey | Mira audio tours