O'Briensbridge-Montpelier

O'Briensbridge–Montpelier is an urban area in Ireland, comprising the villages of O'Briensbridge in County Clare and Montpelier in County Limerick which face each other across the River Shannon. The combined census town had a population of 396 at the 2016 census.^[1]

O'Briensbridge–Montpelier Droichead Uí Bhriain - Montpelier
Urban area
O'Briensbridge, County Clare
O'Briensbridge–Montpelier Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°45′N 8°30′W
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2016)[1]	396
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	R656667

Bridge

O'Briens Bridge (Irish: Droichead Uí Bhriain, meaning 'The bridge of O'Brien') is a 12-arch bridge which connects the village of O'Briensbridge in east County Clare, on the west bank of the River Shannon, with Montpelier in County Limerick on the eastern bank.^[2]

The first bridge across the river here was built in 1506 by Turlough O'Brien, First Earl of Thomond and his brother, the Bishop of Killaloe.

This 16th-century bridge was in turn replaced or rebuilt c. 1750.^[2] The five arches on the west side of the bridge date from this period. The six arches on the east side were replaced by the Shannon Commissioners in 1842. The first arch on the west side was replaced by the present navigation arch when the Shannon Scheme was built downstream in 1925–29.

The ancient river-crossing here is believed to be identical with Áth Caille (meaning "Ford of the Wood"): one of the three fords mentioned in the Triads of Ireland, the others being Áth Clíath (Dublin) and Áth Lúain (Athlone).

References

1. "Census 2016 - Sapmap Area - Settlements - O'Briensbridge-Montpelier". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office. 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
2. "O'Brien's Bridge, Montpelier, County Limerick". Buildings of Ireland. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 14 August 2019.