Survey Data
Reg No
40910902
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Technical
Previous Name
Mullanaleck Bridge
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1760 - 1810
Coordinates
183160, 356776
Date Recorded
03/02/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Triple-arched bridge carrying road over the Drowes River, built c. 1780, having V-profile rubble stone cutwaters to the piers to both elevations, brought up level with parapet coping. Segmental-headed arches having dressed cut stone voussoirs, and with squared rubble stone construction to arch barrels. Rubble stone construction to piers, spandrels and parapets with cement coping over parapets. Copper and stone monument commemorating the writing of the Annals of the Four Masters to centre of one parapet. Rubble stone wing walls to either end of parapets; modern repairs in places. Tarmacadam deck. Located to the south-east of Bundoran. Bridge spans border with County Leitrim to the south.
Appraisal
Despite some modern interventions, this impressive triple-arched road bridge retains its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in the rural landscape to the south-east of Bundoran. It is one of a number of good quality and impressive bridges spanning the Drowes River in this part of Donegal. It is robustly-constructed in rubble stone masonry, and its continued survival and use stands as testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the skill of the masons involved. The V-profile cutwaters and the roughly dressed stone voussoirs to the arches are noteworthy features. The full-height cutwaters and narrow plan of this bridge suggests an early date for this bridge. This bridge may originally date to the late-eighteenth century, a period that saw a great deal of road and bridge-building in Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). The monument to one of the parapets, dated 1975, commemorates the compilation of ‘The Annals of the Four Masters’, which is a celebrated record of the history of Ireland down to 1616. This document was apparently compiled by four Franciscan friars (from the friary at Donegal Town) in 1630-6 at a site/house somewhere adjacent to the Drowes River. This notable bridge is a notable addition to both the built heritage of the local area, and of the extensive transport heritage of County Donegal.