Conservation advice sought on Claragh Bridge

Less than an hour after a construction crew moved in to begin emergency rehabilitation on the historic Claragh Bridge near Tullyvin, the phone rang signalling for the work to be called off.

Monday, August 24, was meant to be the first day of what was to be a three-week €43,000 project to rehabilitate and strengthen the ageing overpass.

Built in 1858, the triple-span flat-backed bridge over the Dromore River, has stood the test of time.

Locally known as the ‘metal bridge’, with distinctive abutments and unique lattice guardrails, historically the bridge was attached to the Clement’s Estate of Ashfield in Cootehill.

Along with lands in Cavan, the family had an extensive property portfolio including Abbotstown, Co Dublin, and an estate in Leitrim. Only remnants of the Clement’s Ashfield Lodge remains, and the bridge is one of just a few standing features belonging to the estates.

The bridge has seen better days. Overgrown with ivy and heavily rusted, safety concerns saw the bridge earmarked for an upgrade under the 2020 €15.1 million roads programme.

Claragh Bridge, an impressive example of a 19th century bridge building, was one of more than a dozen listed for improvement works alongside those in Cloggy, Drumgoon, Bellavalley Lower, Larah, Tunnyduff, Paddock, Parkers Bridge No. 2 (L3539), Clontygrigny, Daly’s Bridge (L7081), Cornacarrow, Derrygarra, One Tree Cross, and Knappagh.

The abruptness of the call to halt works at Claragh came as a surprise. But so too was the reaction among locals. Had the rehabilitation gone ahead it would have seen the removal of the wrought metal sides, replaced with stone walls.

By the time concerns filtered through to local representatives who then lobbied County Heritage Officer Ann Marie Ward to intervene, the road had been closed off, cordons put in place, and a skid-steer digger had moved on site.

The council had secured notice for an emergency order to close off the L6012 to facilitate the Claragh Bridge repairs. The bridge was to remain shut to traffic until Saturday, September 12 at 5pm, including weekends, with diversions put in place and alternative routes made available.

But the vocal intervention has given the local authority cause to step back and reconsider the proposed works, with a view to exploring ways to preserve the structure in its current form.

Fine Gael County Councillor Carmel Brady was among the first to make contact with Ms Ward. She contacted the local heritage officer after representations were made to her by locals fearful of what would happen to the “unique character” of the bridge if works went ahead as planned.

“That was at 10.10am in the morning. The road had been shut about an hour at that stage and the workmen about to get stuck-in. So it was late in the day to call off work, but it had to be done,” says Cllr Brady.

The result is that Cavan County Council will now seek to commission conservation advice with a view to retaining the lattice railings on Claragh Bridge. It will set back improvement works considerably, and the cost of conservation is expected to be significantly more than the €43,000 envisaged by the council to fix the bridge. But Cllr Brady, like other local elected representatives, believes the right decision has been made.

Fianna Fáil trio of Deputy Brendan Smith, Deputy Niamh Smyth and Councillor Aiden Fitzpatrick all welcomed the revised plan to come up with an appropriate solution.

“The solution will be a combination of conservation of the unique historical metal rails dating from the mid 19th century to absolute safety first. I would like to thank Cavan County Council for the co-operation on this matter,” said Cllr Fitzpatrick.

A spokesperson for Cavan County Council confirmed in a statement to The Anglo-Celt: “Works on Claragh Bridge have been suspended and a conservation architect has been engaged to investigate the structure.”