Bridges of Dublin “Everything you want to know about Dublin’s Bridges”

By

Mr Michael Philips – Director of Traffic / City Eng ineer

Dublin City Council

For Further Info rmation : Oliver Dalton, Public Relations Officer

Roads & Transportation Society 01 2885006 or oliver.dalton@csea.ie

Can’t Make It? This event will be Webcast Live See www.engineersireland.ie

Venue 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Date Wednesday, 12th Feb 2014 Time 6:30pm

All are welcome.

Dublin City Council is pleased to announce the launch of www.bridgesofdublin.ie which is designed to showcase Dublin’s unique bridge infrastructure. The site provides a range of information running to over 90,000 words covering the history, design, engineering and interesting facts for each of the current 23 bridges. A spectacular digital archive contains more than 900 photos from the historic to the modern, some of which have never been seen on public display. Sources include the Dublin City Library & Archive, National Gallery, National Library of Ireland, Dublin Port, Fáilte Ireland and the Guinness Archive. As the completion of the Liffey’s 24th bridge - the Rosie Hackett – approaches, the new website provides an opportunity for all to learn about our rich bridge heritage, from the oldest, Mellows Bridge built in 1688, to the more recently constructed Samuel Beckett, built in 2009. The Road and Transportation Society of Engineers Ireland are delighted to welcome, Mr. Michael Philips to give us a brief synopsis of the website. Michael is currently, Director of Traffic in Dublin City Council and City Engineer. He is responsible for the management of traffic and coordination of all public transport infrastructure projects in Dublin City.was originally named Sarah Bridge for Sarah Fane, Countess of Westmorland.

UPCOMING LECTURE...

Presented by the Roads and Transportation Society

Of Engineers Ireland

Grattan Bridge

Samuel Beckett Bridge

Butt Bridge

O’Connell Bridge

Have you ever wondered how many bridges cross the River Liffey or which one is the oldest? Well, wonder no more, answers to these questions and many more can be found on Dublin City Council’s new website: www.bridgesofdublin.ie.

Bridges of Dublin was designed to showcase Dublin’s unique bridge infrastructure. The site provides a range of information running to over 90,000 words covering the history, design, engineering and interesting facts for each of the current 23 bridges. A spectacular digital archive contains more than 900 photos from the historic to the modern, some of which have never be seen on public display. Sources include the Dublin City Library & Archive, National Gallery, National Library of Ireland, Dublin Port, Fáilte Ireland and the Guinness Archive.

As the completion of the Liffey’s 24th bridge - the Rosie Hackett – approaches, the new website provides an opportunity for all to learn about our rich bridge heritage. From the oldest, Mellows Bridge built in 1688, to the more recently constructed Samuel Beckett, built in 2009. The website won the Best Government and Local Government category at the recent Irish Web Awards 2013. It was the second year in a row that the Council won the publicly judged award.

Interesting facts: The force on the back cables of the Samuel Beckett Bridge is • equivalent to a people load of over 80,000 - a Croke Park full house.Island Bridge was originally named Sarah Bridge for Sarah Fane, • Countess of Westmorland. The keystones on the centre arches of O’Connell Bridge represent • Anna Liffey looking westwards and the Atlantic gazing eastwards towards the sea.

Courtesy of Dublin City Council

Courtesy of Dublin City Council

Courtesy of Irish Architectural Archive

- everything you ever wanted to know about Dublin’s bridges