Killaloe Bridge

Killaloe Bridge
Coordinates52°48′29″N 8°26′22″W / 52.8080°N 8.4394°W / 52.8080; -8.4394
CarriesR494 road (to R463)
CrossesRiver Shannon
LocaleBetween County Clare and County Tipperary, Ireland
Heritage statusProtected structure
Characteristics
DesignMasonry bridge
No. of spans13
No. of lanes1
History
Rebuiltc.1780 (main structure)
c.1825 (central arches)
c.1929 (lifting section)
Location
Interactive map of Killaloe Bridge

Killaloe Bridge is a bridge over the River Shannon between Ballina in County Tipperary and Killaloe, County Clare in Ireland. Built on the site of an earlier structure (dating to c. 1650), the eighteenth-century bridge has thirteen arches and includes a lifting section that was added in 1929. Following the opening of a new road bridge nearby in May 2025, Killaloe Bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in October 2025 and is open only for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge is a protected structure, listed on the Record of Protected Structures by both Clare County Council (#210) and Tipperary County Council (#S672).

Monument

An ornate monument in the middle of the bridge commemorates four Irish Republican Army members who were shot on the bridge in 1920, during the Irish War of Independence. There is also a plaque recording the 1825 partial rebuild of the bridge.

Eel management programme

A trap and transport scheme is in force on the Shannon as part of an eel management programme following the discovery of reducing populations within the River Shannon. This scheme is intended to ensure safe passage for young eels between Killaloe Bridge and the Shannon Estuary.

New bridge crossing

In the early 21st century, Clare County Council and North Tipperary County Council presented proposals for a new road to bypass Killaloe, including a new Shannon bridge crossing, approximately 1 km south of the existing bridge. Amendments were made to the local area plans, and a mechanism for enforcing compulsory purchase order was confirmed in March 2013.

By 2018, detailed design planning was underway on works for the Killaloe bypass and proposed new bridge. As of 2020, roadworks in Killaloe and Ballina were underway, with a proposed "target for the commencement of construction" on the bridge in "Spring 2022". A "sod turning" ceremony was held in late 2022.

The new bridge, Brian Boru Bridge, officially opened to traffic on 22 May 2025 as part of the Killaloe Bypass. Later in 2025, the 18th-century Killaloe Bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Killaloe Bridge, Cullenagh (Shanrahan PR), Ballina, Tipperary North". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Clare and Tipperary County Councils Announce Permanent Pedestrianisation of Old Killaloe Ballina Bridge". Clare County Council. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2026. From 6pm, October 17, 2025 the historic narrow stone arch bridge will close permanently to all vehicle traffic and will serve as a pedestrian and cycle link between the twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina. This decision follows a comprehensive [..] consultation process [..in which..] the majority of respondents from both Killaloe and Ballina expressed support for the continued closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic, particularly since the opening of the new Brian Boru Bridge on May 22, 2025
  3. ↑ "Clare County Development Plan (2011–2017) Volume 4 – Record of protected structure" (PDF). Clare County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "NTCC Register of Protected Structures" (PDF). Tipperary County Council. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Shannon International River Basin District Eel Management Plan" (PDF). dcenr.gov.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Eel traps & transport". esb.ie. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "Council awaits approval for €40m Killaloe bridge crossing". Clare Champion. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "Killaloe Bypass Shannon Bridge Crossing". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Notice of the confirmation by an bord pleanala of a compulsory purchase order" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing And R494 Improvement Scheme, Compulsory Purchase [roads No. 1] Order 2012" (PDF). Clare County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Killaloe Bypass / Shannon Bridge Crossing | www.tipperarycoco.ie". Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Start of new Ballina bridge works". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Killaloe Bypass & Bridge Crossing 'the single biggest influence on entire East Clare community'". clareecho.ie. Clare Echo. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Sod turned on Killaloe Bypass/Shannon Bridge Crossing". clareherald.com. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Killaloe bypass to be built as part of €44m road improvements scheme". rte.ie. RTÉ. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  16. ↑ "Brian Boru Bridge connecting Killaloe and Ballina opens". rte.ie. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.