Lifford Bridge (in Irish Droichead Leifear) is a cross-border bridge on the A38 connecting with the N15, spanning the River Foyle which marks the border between Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and Lifford in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. It remains a vital part of the trans-border route from the North, West and East of County Donegal, to Dublin via County Tyrone.
Lifford came into the possession of Sir Richard Hansard during the Plantation of Ulster in 1607. One of the conditions of his grant was that a ferry crossing be provided over the River Finn. This service continued until 1730 when the first bridge linking Lifford and Strabane was built. [1]
In the 19th century a curious custom existed when if, by the end of the Assizes in Lifford Courthouse or Omagh Courthouse, a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in a case, they were sent to the "verge" of the county to be dismissed. In the case of counties Donegal and Tyrone, this was the middle of the Lifford Bridge. [1]
The present bridge was constructed by engineering company Farrans in 1964, jointly funded by Donegal County Council and the old Tyrone County Council. [2] Strabane District Council took over the functions of Tyrone County Council in part of West Tyrone in 1973. The overall length of the bridge is 115m. In 2005 it carried some 16,000 vehicles a day. [3]
During The Troubles in 1968, an attempt was made to blow the bridge up. However, it was closed for only a short time. [1]
In 2005 refurbishment of the bridge took place and included upgrading the parapet railings, installation of safety kerbing and railings, resurfacing of the carriageway deck and footways, upgrading streetlights. Over £400,000 was spent on the project. [4]
Strabane is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Lifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland, the administrative centre of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken as holding this role.
The River Foyle is a river in west Ulster in the northwest of the island of Ireland, which flows from the confluence of the rivers Finn and Mourne at the towns of Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here it flows to the city of Derry, where it discharges into Lough Foyle and, ultimately, the Atlantic Ocean. The total length of the River Foyle is 32 km (20 mi). The river separates part of County Donegal from parts of both County Londonderry and County Tyrone. The district of County Donegal that borders the western bank of the River Foyle is traditionally known as the Laggan. This district includes the villages of St Johnston and Carrigans, both of which are nestled on the banks of the River.
Stranorlar is a town, townland and civil parish in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, in Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey form the twin towns of Ballybofey–Stranorlar.
The N14 road is a national primary road in the Republic of Ireland. The entirety of the route is located in the northwest of Ireland, in County Donegal, connecting Manorcunningham to Lifford in the east. Here it connects to the N15 near the border with Northern Ireland and along the A38 to Strabane in County Tyrone.
The N15 road is a national primary road in the north-west of Ireland. It runs from Sligo to Lifford, County Donegal. It forms part of the proposed Atlantic Corridor route. It also goes to the border with Northern Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border, sometimes referred to as the Irish border or British–Irish border, runs for 499 km (310 mi) from Lough Foyle in the north-west of Ireland to Carlingford Lough in the north-east, separating the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland.
Ballymagorry or Ballymagory is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is west of Artigarvan and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Strabane. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 565. It lies within the Strabane District Council area and lies on the River Glenmornan.
The River Finn is a river in the west of Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. The river mainly flows through County Donegal, part of the Republic of Ireland, while a short stretch of the river also partially flows through County Tyrone, part of Northern Ireland. From Lough Finn, the river goes to Ballybofey and Stranorlar before joining the River Mourne at Lifford and Strabane.
The Foyle Bridge is a bridge in Derry, Northern Ireland. The central span of the bridge is the longest on the island of Ireland, at 234 metres (767 ft), and the whole suspended bridge structure including the approach spans is 866 metres long (2839 ft).
Castlefin, sometimes spelt Castlefinn, is a market town and townland in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, Ireland. It is located between Stranorlar and Lifford in East Donegal. As of 2022, the population was 730. The River Finn flows by the town. The town is located in along the main N15 national primary road, which runs from Bundoran to Lifford. The town lies 6 miles from Lifford and 8 miles from the twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar. It has close links to Letterkenny, to the twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar, and to West Tyrone in Northern Ireland, especially with the towns of Strabane and Castlederg.
Clady is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies about 4 miles from Strabane on the River Finn and borders the Republic of Ireland. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 538 people. It is within Urney civil parish and the former barony of Strabane Lower. In local government it is part of the Derry City and Strabane District Council. The townland covers an area of 173 acres.
Charles "Charlie" Breslin was a volunteer in the West Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army from Strabane, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
The Strabane Canal is a short (6.5 km) canal in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It connected the market town of Strabane to the navigable River Foyle and from there to the port of Foyle Port on the north coast of Ireland. The canal opened in 1796 and closed in 1962.
Strabane Lifford Development Commission is a cross-border body in Ireland, to develop cultural and economic development ties between Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, just across the border marked by the River Foyle.
The A5 is a major primary route in Northern Ireland. It links the city of Derry in County Londonderry with Aughnacloy, County Tyrone via the towns of Strabane and Omagh. Just south of Aughnacloy is the border with the Republic of Ireland, where the A5 meets the N2 to Dublin. Between them the A5 and N2 are the main road link between County Donegal in the Republic and Dublin.
The River Mourne is a river in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and is a tributary of the River Foyle It is formed at the meetings of the River Derg and River Strule below Ardstraw. At Strabane it joins with the River Finn to form the River Foyle. Fishing is largely for salmon, grilse and sea trout. Other species such as Common Roach, Common Minnow, Northern Pike, European Eel, Perch and Sticklebacks can also be found in different stretches of the River on occasion.
The Strabane Weekly News and Tyrone & Donegal Reporter is a local paper published in the border town of Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and covers the west of the county. The paper also covers the area of east Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, in particular the hinterland of the town of Lifford, which is located across the River Mourne, on the other side of the border, from Strabane. The paper sells well in Raphoe and in St Johnston. The publication is owned by the Alpha Newspaper Group and has a current circulation of 3,382.
Porthall is a village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. The village is located on the west bank of the River Foyle, in The Laggan district of East Donegal, on the R265 road. The nearest town is Lifford, the county town.
The A38 links Strabane, County Tyrone and the A5 through the meadows of the river Foyle and over Lifford Bridge to Lifford, the County Town of County Donegal, where it links into the N14 and the N15. The N15 continues into County Donegal to Stranorlar, Ballybofey, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and then leaves County Donegal, before heading to Sligo. The N14 continues through Rossgeir and Drumbeg to Letterkenny, connecting to the N13, which makes its way to Buncrana, Inishowen and Derry.