O'Brien's Bridge
O'Briensbridge
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O'Brien's Bridge or O'Briensbridge (Irish: Droichead Uí Bhriain[1]) is a village in east County Clare, Ireland, on the west bank of the River Shannon, in a civil parish of the same name. It is named for the bridge across the Shannon at that point, built by Turlough O'Brien in 1506.
Location
The parish of O'Briensbridge, which includes the village of O'Brien's Bridge, is in the barony of Tulla Lower. It was formerly part of the parish of Killaloe. It is 9.66 by 5.23 kilometres (6.00 by 3.25 mi) and covers 4,624 hectares (11,430 acres), including a detached district 4.8 by 3.2 kilometres (3.0 by 2.0 mi) to the southwest. The parish is bounded on the east by the River Shannon. The narrow northern section in mountainous, rising to 527 metres (1,729 ft), and the western part of the parish is also upland.[2] There were two castles in the parish. The one at the village of O'Brien's Bridge was inhabited by Murtagh O'Brien, Baron of Inchiquin, in 1580. It is now entirely gone. The other, Aherinagh, was still reasonably well preserved at the end of the 19th century. In 1580 it belonged to Donogh, son of Conor MacNamara.[3]
History
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.[3] This first bridge was made of wood, and was burned in 1510 by
At the eastern end of today's 12-arch bridge lies the village of Montpelier in County Limerick.
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).
Sports
The local soccer club is Bridge Celtic AFC, which was formed in 1963 and currently plays in the Clare Soccer League. The club won the Clare Premier title in 2006/07, for the first time in 28 years.[5]
Townlands
The parish contains the townlands of Aharinaghmore, Ardataggle, Ballybrack, Ballycar North, Ballycar South, Ballyknavin, Cappakea, Carrownagowan, Cloghera, Clonboy, Coolnalira, Coumbrack, Earlhill, Fahy Beg, Fahy More North, Fahy More South, Glenlon North, Glenlon South, Kilcredaun, Kilroughil, Knockaderreen, Knockdonagh, Lackareagh Beg, Lackareagh More, Magherareagh, O'Briensbridge, Ross, Roo East, Roo West and Trough.[6]
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Montpelier, County Limerick
- O'Briensbridge-Montpelier
- O'Brien's Bridge (now Glenorchy, Tasmania)
References
Citations
Sources
- "Droichead Uí Bhriain". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- Frost, James (1893). "Ui Toirdhealbhaigh, O'Briensbridge Parish". The History and Topography of the County of Clare. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- "History". O'Brien's Bridge Live. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2017 – via Wayback Machine.
- "Map of O'Briensbridge Parish showing Townlands". Clare County Library. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- "Bridge Celtic". Clare District Soccer League. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- "O'Brien's-Bridge parish". Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland. 1845. Retrieved 12 April 2014.