NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE - ONE OF A PAIR
NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT LAMBLEY'S LANE IN CORK CITY [PHOTOGRAPHED USING A LEICA Q3]
The new bridge at Lambley’s Lane is a key feature of the "Beamish and Crawford Quarter" regeneration project. Recently named the Cumann na mBan Bridge, it forms one half of a strategic pair designed to reconnect the medieval heart of Cork City with its southern quays.
Timeline and Development
Announced: The broader public realm scheme for the area was formalised around 2021, following years of planning tied to the redevelopment of the old Beamish & Crawford brewery site.
Completed: The bridge was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork on 14 November 2025. It was formally named in April 2026 following a public consultation process.
Designers & Builders: The project was commissioned by Cork City Council and funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and the National Transport Authority (NTA). The construction was part of a larger contract involving the firm BAM, as part of the surrounding brewery site development.
Specific Purpose
The bridge is a pedestrian and cycle-only structure. Its purpose is to:
Provide a direct link from South Main Street (via Lambley’s Lane) to Wandesford Quay and Crosse’s Green.
Enable "active travel" (walking and cycling) by bypassing busy vehicular junctions.
Support the future Cork Event Centre, providing a high-capacity entrance and exit route for crowds.
The "Twin" Bridge
I also photographed a second, similar bridge nearby. This is the Séamus Murphy Bridge (formerly referred to as the Proby's Quay bridge).
Location: It connects Proby’s Quay to the Beamish and Crawford site (near the historic Counting House).
The "Pair" Logic: They are designed as a pair to create a "permeable" quarter. Instead of the brewery being a walled-off block, these two bridges allow people to walk through the site from the south (St Fin Barre’s Cathedral area) directly into the city centre at South Main Street.
History of Lambley’s Lane
The name is far from new, though the lane itself was "lost" for many years.
Origins: It is named after Alderman William Lambley, who served as the Mayor of Cork in 1716.
The "Lost" Lane: It was a historic medieval laneway that appeared on maps as early as 1726. However, as the Beamish & Crawford brewery expanded over the centuries, the lane was effectively swallowed up and became a private internal thoroughfare within the brewery walls.
Restoration: Part of the current planning requirement for the brewery's redevelopment was the "reinstatement" of this historic right of way, bringing a 300-year-old street back into public use.
The new bridge at Lambley’s Lane is a key feature of the "Beamish and Crawford Quarter" regeneration project. Recently named the Cumann na mBan Bridge, it forms one half of a strategic pair designed to reconnect the medieval heart of Cork City with its southern quays.
Timeline and Development
Announced: The broader public realm scheme for the area was formalised around 2021, following years of planning tied to the redevelopment of the old Beamish & Crawford brewery site.
Completed: The bridge was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork on 14 November 2025. It was formally named in April 2026 following a public consultation process.
Designers & Builders: The project was commissioned by Cork City Council and funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and the National Transport Authority (NTA). The construction was part of a larger contract involving the firm BAM, as part of the surrounding brewery site development.
Specific Purpose
The bridge is a pedestrian and cycle-only structure. Its purpose is to:
Provide a direct link from South Main Street (via Lambley’s Lane) to Wandesford Quay and Crosse’s Green.
Enable "active travel" (walking and cycling) by bypassing busy vehicular junctions.
Support the future Cork Event Centre, providing a high-capacity entrance and exit route for crowds.
The "Twin" Bridge
I also photographed a second, similar bridge nearby. This is the Séamus Murphy Bridge (formerly referred to as the Proby's Quay bridge).
Location: It connects Proby’s Quay to the Beamish and Crawford site (near the historic Counting House).
The "Pair" Logic: They are designed as a pair to create a "permeable" quarter. Instead of the brewery being a walled-off block, these two bridges allow people to walk through the site from the south (St Fin Barre’s Cathedral area) directly into the city centre at South Main Street.
History of Lambley’s Lane
The name is far from new, though the lane itself was "lost" for many years.
Origins: It is named after Alderman William Lambley, who served as the Mayor of Cork in 1716.
The "Lost" Lane: It was a historic medieval laneway that appeared on maps as early as 1726. However, as the Beamish & Crawford brewery expanded over the centuries, the lane was effectively swallowed up and became a private internal thoroughfare within the brewery walls.
Restoration: Part of the current planning requirement for the brewery's redevelopment was the "reinstatement" of this historic right of way, bringing a 300-year-old street back into public use.
NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE