Seán O'Casey Bridge — Attraction in Dublin

he oft quoted ‘Tale of Two Cities’ springs to mind when strolling the tree lined campshires framing the Seán O’Casey Bridge. Once this was a riverside wasteland, replete with tumbledown warehousing, rusting gantries and the hollow cry of scavenging seabirds. A decayed, urban landscape, crowned with the ugly, iron clad gasometer on the south side, blighted with sub standard housing in a maze of railway sidings and container depots on the north side. Unemployment was rife and the population was in decline, with some residents suffering Dickensian conditions in the 1980s - a family of seven sleeping in one bedroom, a plastic, baby bathtub in the kitchen providing their washing facilities.

The Liffey was a watery no man’s land crossed by functional road bridges upstream and downstream. Everyone was going somewhere else. Then, as if inspired by the words of Seán O’Casey, “Take heart from your city’s hidden splendour”, a transformation took place.

This cosmopolitan quarter is now a reflective river of light by night and by day seethes with the energy of a more youthful population. Occasional markets and festivals bring even more colourful vibrancy.

Image of Seán O’Casey Bridge SEÁN O'CASEY BRIDGE (2007)

Vital to this transformation was the provision of the bridge. The Dublin Docklands Authority, with statutory responsibility for the regeneration of the area, commissioned a pedestrian bridge. With admirable efficiency the process of appointing the design team, constructing and completing the bridge along with the necessary legal consents, environmental impact studies and licences was completed within a 30 month period. The bridge, connecting City Quay to the North Wall Quay and the I.F.S.C., was opened in July, 2005. The elegant, cable stayed, swing bridge is the embodiment of European co-operation and development: the opening section was produced in England, the balustrade panels originated in France, the deck in Denmark and the stone in Ireland.

The design by architect Cyril O’Neill and O’Connor Sutton Cronin Consulting Engineers was selected from 80 international entries and in 2006 received an RIAI award and the iStructE Award for Pedestrian Bridges and in 2007 an International Architecture Award.

Dubliners have taken the bridge to their heart - the measure of which is to dub it with witty nicknames. For some it is the ‘Bingo Bridge’, allowing northsiders and southsiders to frequent each other’s bingo halls. Others, amused by the apparent bounce they experience as they saunter across, have christened it the ‘Quiver...

The Seán O'Casey Bridge is a very useful for me and many others and I actually like it. It connects City Quay in the Grand Canal Docks area and North Wall Quay as well as the IFSC.

It is often the case when I am out photographing a local decided to provide me with some important information relating to what I am currently photographing. When photographing the area near the Sean O'Casey Bridge, a few weeks ago, I was told that it was no longer possible to open the bridge because the remote control had been lost. I must admit that I did not believe the claim but when I checked I discovered that the story was more-or-less true.

"The Seán O'Casey Bridge, which has been unable to open to shipping for many years, was finally re-opened in 2014 after experts created a new remote control for the structure. A new remote control had to be created at a cost of cost of about €1,800 as it had been impossible to open the bridge as the original had been lost."

Of course the story was a bit more complicated than...

The Sean O Casey Bridge in Dublin is an iconic and impressive feat of engineering that is well worth a visit. The bridge spans the River Liffey and connects the north and south sides of the city, offering stunning views of the city skyline and the river below. The design of the bridge is both innovative and functional, with a unique swing mechanism that allows the bridge to open and close to accommodate passing ships. The bridge is particularly impressive when it is in motion, as you can see the counterweights and gears in action. The surrounding area is also worth exploring, with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and shops nearby. The bridge is well-maintained and offers a safe and easy way to cross the river on foot or by bike. Overall, the Sean O Casey Bridge is a must-visit attraction in Dublin, and is a great example of the city's rich history and...