O'Donovan Rossa Bridge

Replacing a short lived wooden structure, the original masonry bridge on this site was built in 1684 as a five-span simple arch bridge, and named Ormonde Bridge. In December 1802 this bridge was swept away during a severe storm.

In 1816, a replacement bridge (the current structure) was constructed marginally further west, consisting of three elliptical arch spans in granite, with sculptured heads (similar to those on O'Connell Bridge) on the keystones. The heads represent Plenty, the Liffey, and Industry on one side, with Commerce, Hibernia and Peace on the other.

Opened as Richmond Bridge (for the Duke of Richmond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), it was renamed again in 1923 for Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa by the fledgeling Free State.

References