Butt Bridge, Dublin
Tilt your head just a little, and you鈥檒l match the angle of this curious character stretched across the River Liffey 鈥� linking George's Quay with Beresford Place like it鈥檚 trying to start a conversation between south and north Dublin. It might not have the Instagram glow of the Ha鈥橮enny or the architectural swagger of the Samuel Beckett Bridge, but this old soul has charm where it counts. It鈥檚 got grit, grace, and a pretty smashing view of the Docklands, the Custom House, and a river that鈥檚 heard more stories than your favorite pub.
The original bridge was built in 1879 as a steel swivel bridge to allow ships to pass through, back when the Liffey still saw serious maritime action. It was named after Isaac Butt鈥攁 19th-century Irish nationalist who fought for the country鈥檚 autonomy and just so happened to die that same year (talk about timing...).
Eventually, as Dublin modernised and traffic increased, the swing bridge became more of a bottleneck than a solution and demanded a sturdier replacement. So, in 1932, the swing section was replaced with the current fixed, three-span, granite-trimmed chunk of ferro-concrete, still carrying Butt鈥檚 name and a healthy dose of old-school pride. Practical, sturdy, and very 1930s...
But here鈥檚 the kicker 鈥� the middle section of this bridge is a marvel: two cantilevered arms reaching out like they鈥檙e shaking hands, perfectly balanced by their own approach spans. This was the first time reinforced concrete pulled off such a trick in Britain or Ireland. So, yeah, it may look modest, but under that grey exterior is a quiet revolution in concrete couture.
The bridge is just downstream from the Samuel Beckett and Rosie Hackett Bridges鈥攕o, if you鈥檙e into Dublin鈥檚 literary heritage, you鈥檙e standing in good company. And if you want a bonus fun fact for your walk: you鈥檙e crossing over the Liffey in the footsteps of countless Dubs from every walk of life鈥攊ncluding possibly your own inner poet...
The original bridge was built in 1879 as a steel swivel bridge to allow ships to pass through, back when the Liffey still saw serious maritime action. It was named after Isaac Butt鈥攁 19th-century Irish nationalist who fought for the country鈥檚 autonomy and just so happened to die that same year (talk about timing...).
Eventually, as Dublin modernised and traffic increased, the swing bridge became more of a bottleneck than a solution and demanded a sturdier replacement. So, in 1932, the swing section was replaced with the current fixed, three-span, granite-trimmed chunk of ferro-concrete, still carrying Butt鈥檚 name and a healthy dose of old-school pride. Practical, sturdy, and very 1930s...
But here鈥檚 the kicker 鈥� the middle section of this bridge is a marvel: two cantilevered arms reaching out like they鈥檙e shaking hands, perfectly balanced by their own approach spans. This was the first time reinforced concrete pulled off such a trick in Britain or Ireland. So, yeah, it may look modest, but under that grey exterior is a quiet revolution in concrete couture.
The bridge is just downstream from the Samuel Beckett and Rosie Hackett Bridges鈥攕o, if you鈥檙e into Dublin鈥檚 literary heritage, you鈥檙e standing in good company. And if you want a bonus fun fact for your walk: you鈥檙e crossing over the Liffey in the footsteps of countless Dubs from every walk of life鈥攊ncluding possibly your own inner poet...
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Butt Bridge on Map
Sight Name: Butt Bridge
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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