MY FIRST TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
I FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY DALY BRIDGE "THE SHAKEY BRIDGE" IN 2019 [IT WAS IN VERY POOR CONDITION]
Rediscovering Cork's Shakey Bridge: A Tale of Chance and Restoration
For years, one particular Cork landmark had eluded me: Daly's Bridge, known more affectionately by locals as "The Shakey Bridge". Despite a dedicated, but ultimately fruitless, search back in 2016, my subsequent visits to the city in 2017 and 2018 were filled with trips to Cobh and Midleton, and the bridge fell off my itinerary.
By 2019, however, it was back at the top of my list.
A Fortuitous Detour
Even with a better idea of its location, I ended up finding it completely by accident. After a fascinating tour of Cork City Gaol, a guide advised me to walk towards the Mardyke to catch a bus back to the city centre. While wandering along, not entirely sure of my route, I hoped to find a shortcut. I took a chance and turned down a narrow laneway, and there it was at the very end: a pedestrian bridge, instantly recognisable, but in a very poor state of repair. It was the very bridge I couldn't find three years earlier.
To be honest, its condition was quite shocking. I remember thinking it looked almost derelict, a forgotten relic. The characteristic tremor that gives the bridge its name felt more like a worrying wobble. Of course, had I paid more attention, I would have spotted the notice attached to a pole at the entrance, which would have explained everything. At the time, I was completely unaware that this unique piece of Cork's heritage was about to be carefully dismantled and brought away for a major restoration. My accidental discovery had happened in the nick of time.
A Landmark's Revival
The Shakey Bridge, a distinctive pedestrian suspension bridge, has spanned the River Lee since 1926. Its 'shake' is a deliberate feature of its design, but by 2019, decades of use and weather had taken their toll, necessitating a significant intervention to preserve it for future generations.
The timeline for its meticulous restoration was as follows:
July 2019: It was announced that the bridge would close for extensive repairs.
August 2019: Works commenced, and the familiar landmark was closed to the public and carefully removed from its abutments.
December 2020: Following a complex, off-site restoration, the bridge was reinstated and reopened to the public, looking as good as new.
Q3 2021: The final touches were applied, and the entire restoration project was officially completed.
What a privilege it was to have stumbled upon the bridge in its final days before its transformation. It provides a stark contrast to the beautifully restored structure that stands today, ready to welcome walkers and give them that gentle, famous shake as they cross the Lee.
Rediscovering Cork's Shakey Bridge: A Tale of Chance and Restoration
For years, one particular Cork landmark had eluded me: Daly's Bridge, known more affectionately by locals as "The Shakey Bridge". Despite a dedicated, but ultimately fruitless, search back in 2016, my subsequent visits to the city in 2017 and 2018 were filled with trips to Cobh and Midleton, and the bridge fell off my itinerary.
By 2019, however, it was back at the top of my list.
A Fortuitous Detour
Even with a better idea of its location, I ended up finding it completely by accident. After a fascinating tour of Cork City Gaol, a guide advised me to walk towards the Mardyke to catch a bus back to the city centre. While wandering along, not entirely sure of my route, I hoped to find a shortcut. I took a chance and turned down a narrow laneway, and there it was at the very end: a pedestrian bridge, instantly recognisable, but in a very poor state of repair. It was the very bridge I couldn't find three years earlier.
To be honest, its condition was quite shocking. I remember thinking it looked almost derelict, a forgotten relic. The characteristic tremor that gives the bridge its name felt more like a worrying wobble. Of course, had I paid more attention, I would have spotted the notice attached to a pole at the entrance, which would have explained everything. At the time, I was completely unaware that this unique piece of Cork's heritage was about to be carefully dismantled and brought away for a major restoration. My accidental discovery had happened in the nick of time.
A Landmark's Revival
The Shakey Bridge, a distinctive pedestrian suspension bridge, has spanned the River Lee since 1926. Its 'shake' is a deliberate feature of its design, but by 2019, decades of use and weather had taken their toll, necessitating a significant intervention to preserve it for future generations.
The timeline for its meticulous restoration was as follows:
July 2019: It was announced that the bridge would close for extensive repairs.
August 2019: Works commenced, and the familiar landmark was closed to the public and carefully removed from its abutments.
December 2020: Following a complex, off-site restoration, the bridge was reinstated and reopened to the public, looking as good as new.
Q3 2021: The final touches were applied, and the entire restoration project was officially completed.
What a privilege it was to have stumbled upon the bridge in its final days before its transformation. It provides a stark contrast to the beautifully restored structure that stands today, ready to welcome walkers and give them that gentle, famous shake as they cross the Lee.
THE SHAKEY BRIDGE