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...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dublin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
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:
Walking Tours in Dublin, Ireland
Create Your Own Walk in Dublin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Dublin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pub Crawl
The Irish in general and Dubliners in particular are known for their passion for whiskey and beer. As you embark upon a beguiling odyssey through the spirited streets of the Irish capital, you can't help noticing the reverberating vibrancy coming from its enchanting pubs. A tapestry of libation-laden lore awaits those who traverse the path of the Dublin pub crawl, guided by the siren call of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Dublin Literary Pubs
The three Ps of Dublin 鈥� the pub, the poet, and the pint 鈥� have always distinguished the Irish capital as home to some of the most literary pubs in Europe. Indeed, Dublin's public houses, where writers traditionally sharpened their wit, today encapsulate the enchantment of the written word and play a significant role in preserving and celebrating this legacy.
Among these revered... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Among these revered... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Dublin Introduction Walking Tour
The Irish capital, Dublin, is a city where history has a pint in one hand and a smartphone in the other. Sitting snugly on Ireland鈥檚 east coast, straddling the River Liffey like it owns the place, Dublin is a heady mix of medieval charm, Georgian swagger, and modern-day buzz. The name itself, Dubh Linn (the Celtic expression for 鈥渂lack pool鈥�) sounds mysterious enough 鈥� and yes, it refers... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
A Walk with Famous Irish Writers
Albeit a small country, Ireland has given the world a plethora of remarkable writers and poets, many of whom were born, lived, and studied in Dublin. Needless to say, as an epicenter of Ireland's literary scene, Dublin boasts a myriad of hallowed locations closely associated with the luminaries of Irish literature, such as James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and many of their... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
A Walk Along Liffey River
The River Liffey 鈥� Dublin鈥檚 liquid backbone 鈥� slices through the Irish capital like a great shimmering bookmark, separating the Northside from the Southside in a civil yet longstanding sibling rivalry. Stretching around 125 kilometers, this body of water is indeed a living archive, a story that never quite ends. Stroll along its banks, and you鈥檒l find yourself time-traveling without the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
16 Distinctively Irish Things to Buy in Dublin
The birthplace of many artistic talents, such as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, Dublin is the show-window of Ireland, a small country renowned for its rich cultural scene encompassing music, writing, poetry, dance, craftsmanship and more. The food & drink scene of Dublin (much as the whole of...