The Cavanagh pedestrian bridge and riverside walk acts as a crucial link in the chain of connection between the campus core and the Western Road. It makes the unique green space on the northern side of the river available for use by the students, staff and members of the public, and consolidates the parkland character of the landscape amenity of the riverside grounds of the College.

The bridge was opened in 2020 but August 2021 was my first opportunity to photograph the structure but the strange thing is that I had believed that I had already photographed it on a previous visit. Today [10 May 2022] was my second time to visit and photograph the bridge

University College Cork named its new pedestrian bridge after philanthropist Dr Tom Cavanagh — the second campus structure to bear his surname.

The developers description is as follows:

"Perrot’s Inch riverside gardens have been re-landscaped providing new, usable amenity space for the city and University. Lawns bordered in meadow grasses will provide a changing landscape which is usable all year round. These now accessible gardens, serpentine pathways and bridge structures provide places for reflection and recreation offering new perspectives to the Historic University Quadrangle with a newly landscaped setting."

"A meticulously detailed larch and jatoba timber bridging structure spans the 27 meter river bed resting lightly on two special finish concrete abutments. These concrete abutments are modelled to provide steps, ramps, walls and seats. Applied finishing techniques- sandblasting, grinding, polishing and trowelling- bring special finishes to this everyday material. Construction details were given careful consideration to achieve a complex sequencing and assembly of materials which would appear effortless."

Engineer Horganlynch

Architect O’Donnell + Tuomey

Contractor L & M Keating

Date 2018

Awards:
AAI Award
Irish Concrete Society – Overall Winner
Irish Concrete Society – Element Category Award