Old Weir Bridge

Last updated

The Old Weir Bridge is an ancient bridge located in Killarney National Park in County Kerry, Ireland. [1] It is a twin arch bridge made of stone.

The bridge is situated at the spot known as the "Meeting of the Waters", where the three Killarney lakes meet. The waters from the Upper Lake flow into the Middle (or Muckross Lake) and Lough Leane. [2]

The Old Weir Bridge in a dated drawing. Old Weir Bridge. Killarney. Co. Kerry Ireland.jpg
The Old Weir Bridge in a dated drawing.

History

The actual age of the bridge is unclear, but believed to date back to the sixteenth century. A 1780 Fisher print of the bridge shows it already had fallen into a state of disrepair by the late 1700s. [1] and remained so for at least the next 100 years. [3]

The bridge quickly became, (and remains) a popular trip for tourist who use the swift current to propel narrow boats down the inlet. [1] [4]

The bridge survived the devastating floods of September 1867, when local houses, including Dinis Cottage, and other wooden structures were washed away. [5]

A modern view of the bridge, showing recent repairs. The high-water mark can be seen on the central column. Old-Weir-Bridge-Killarney-National-Park-2012.JPG
A modern view of the bridge, showing recent repairs. The high-water mark can be seen on the central column.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Kerry</span> County in Ireland

County Kerry is a county in Ireland. It is in the Southern Region and the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the county was 156,458 at the 2022 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killarney</span> Town in County Kerry, Ireland

Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, part of Killarney National Park, and is home to St Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross House and Abbey, the Lakes of Killarney, MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Purple Mountain, Mangerton Mountain, Paps Mountain, the Gap of Dunloe and Torc Waterfall. Its natural heritage, history and location on the Ring of Kerry make Killarney a popular tourist destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Castle</span> 15th century castle in Ireland

Ross Castle is a 15th-century tower house and keep on the edge of Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O'Donoghue, later associated with the Brownes of Killarney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakes of Killarney</span> Lakes in County Kerry, Ireland

The Lakes of Killarney are a scenic attraction located in Killarney National Park near Killarney, County Kerry, in Ireland. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killarney National Park</span> National park in Ireland

Killarney National Park, near the town of Killarney, County Kerry, was the first national park in Ireland, created when the Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932. The park has since been substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km2 of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare. The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park forms part of a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Laune</span> River in County Kerry, Ireland

The River Laune is a river in County Kerry, Ireland, which flows from Lough Leane, one of the Lakes of Killarney, through Beaufort, past Ballymalis Castle, through the town of Killorglin, and empties into the sea, first at Castlemaine harbour beside the river Maine and then out through Dingle Bay. The Laune is well known for salmon and trout fishing.

Killarney Heights is a suburb of Northern Sydney, situated on Middle Harbour, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Killarney Heights is 12 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council. Killarney Heights is part of the Forest District, colloquially known as The Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Way</span> Walking trail in County Kerry, Ireland

The Kerry Way is a long-distance trail in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 214-kilometre (133-mile) long circular trail that begins and ends in Killarney and is typically broken into nine stages. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Kerry County Council, South Kerry Development Partnership and the Kerry Way Committee. The Way circles the Iveragh Peninsula and forms a walkers' version of the Ring of Kerry road tour. It is the longest of Ireland's National Waymarked Trails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torc Mountain</span> Mountain in Killarney, Ireland

Torc Mountain, at 535 metres (1,755 ft), is the 329th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list. It is a popular mountain for hill walkers as it has a stone or boarded path from its base at Torc Waterfall to its summit, which has views of the Lakes of Killarney. Torc Mountain is part of the Mangerton Mountain Group range in County Kerry, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gap of Dunloe</span> Mountain pass in Kerry, Ireland

The Gap of Dunloe, also recorded as Bearna an Choimín, is a narrow mountain pass running north-south in County Kerry, Ireland, that separates the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range in the west, from the Purple Mountain Group range in the east. It is one of Kerry's most popular tourist destinations on account of its scenery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangerton Mountain</span> Mountain in Killarney, Ireland

Mangerton or Mangerton Mountain, at 838 metres (2,749 ft), is the 19th-highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list, and the 26th–highest mountain according to the Vandeleur-Lynam list. Mangerton is the tallest mountain in the Mangerton Mountain Group, also called the Mangerton Mountains or the Mountains of East Kerry, a range that includes five other major mountains that have a height above 2,000 feet (610 m). Mangerton's western slopes lie within the Killarney National Park. On Mangerton's north-western face lies a deep corrie lake called the Devil's Punchbowl, which is a popular scenic destination for hill walkers; although the mountain is often overlooked by walkers due to the proximity of its more scenic and accessible neighbour, Torc Mountain. The far northern slopes of Mangerton was the site of an important 13th-century battle between the Mac Cárthaigh, and the FitzGeralds, known as the "Tooreencormick battle site".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torc Waterfall</span> Waterfall in Killarney, Ireland

Torc Waterfall is a 20 metres (66 ft) high, 110 metres (360 ft) long cascade waterfall formed by the Owengarriff River as it drains from the Devil's Punchbowl corrie lake at Mangerton Mountain. The waterfall, which lies at the base of Torc Mountain, in the Killarney National Park, is 4.3 miles from Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. The waterfall is a popular site on the Ring of Kerry and the Kerry Way tours.

Currow is a rural village in County Kerry in south west Ireland, located approximately 12 km from Killarney and 18 km from Tralee. Currow is situated on the Brown Flesk River, a tributary of the River Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killarney, Florida</span> Unincorporated community in Florida, United States

Killarney is an unincorporated community in Orange County, Florida, United States. Its ZIP code is 34740. The community is located west of Oakland, south of Lake Apopka, north of John's Lake, and east of the Lake-Orange County Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inchigeelagh</span> Village in County Cork, Ireland

Inchigeelagh is a small village, townland and civil parish in County Cork, Ireland. The village is just outside a Gaeltacht area. Inchigeelagh is part of the Dáil constituency of Cork North-West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muckross Lake</span> Lake in County Kerry, Ireland

Muckross Lake, also called Middle Lake or The Torc, is a lake in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is one of the three famous Lakes of Killarney, along with Lough Leane and Upper Lake. It is Ireland's deepest lake, reaching to 75 metres (246 ft) in parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Lake, Killarney</span> Lake in County Kerry, Ireland

Upper Lake is a lake in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is one of the Lakes of Killarney, along with Muckross Lake and Lough Leane.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Killarney Lakes Series" . Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  2. "Donoghues White Villa Farm - Places to visit" . Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  3. Payne Jennings 1860 print, Sean Sexton 'IRELAND in old photographs' 1994
  4. Stirling Coyne; J and Willis; N P. "Upper Lake of Killarney". The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland c1841.
  5. Ryan, John M. (2001). "Deer forests, game shooting and landed estates in the South West of Ireland, 1840 - 1970". Cork Open Research Archive: 59.