Spectacle Bridge

The Spectacle Bridge is a bridge built in May 1816 over the Aille River in County Clare, Ireland.

Spectacle Bridge
Coordinates	53.025°N 9.30706°W / 53.025; -9.30706
Carries	N67
Crosses	Aille River
Locale	County Clare
Characteristics
Design	Arch bridge
Material	Stone
No. of spans	One
History
Designer	John Hill
Opened	May 1816 (1816-05)
Location

History

The Spectacle Bridge was designed by County Clare's county engineer, John Hill. It spans the Aille River gorge on the road between Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon on the N67. The gorge is up to 25 metres deep at points, and a solid bridge would have been too heavy. Hill then designed a tunnel running through the centre to make the structure lighter. This design resulted in the name, the Spectacle Bridge.^[1][2][3][4] It is a single arch with cut-stone coping and voussoirs, and splayed piers.^[5]

The bridge was renovated in 2001.^[4]