Demolition work begins on 19 Century Co Galway bridge

Workmen have begun demolishing a 19 Century bridge in Co Galway after efforts by some local residents to preserve the structure failed.

The Clydagh Bridge near Moycullen is being demolished in order to improve road safety on the N59.

The double arch bridge is being replaced by one with a single arch, but the stone from the original is being incorporated into the facing of the new bridge as a condition of the planning permission.

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Work begins on the demolition of the Clydagh Bridge near Moycullen in Co Galway on Tuesday. Photograph: Shayna Davidson

The new bridge will have the capacity to carry an increased volume of traffic through the village.

Campaigners have spent years trying to prevent the removal of the bridge which was built in 1829 and has been described as a “post-medieval masonry bridge”.

Galway County Council, on behalf of the National Roads Authority, engaged a building contractor to begin road improvement works at the entrance to Moycullen village.

The work is expected to be completed by November.

The demolition work began on Tuesday after a meeting between the council, members of the Save Clydagh Bridge delegation and local TDs failed to agree an alternative to demolition.

The works are based on planning granted by An Bord Pleanala after a public hearing in May 2012. The cost of replacing the bridge is €3.5 million.

While some locals believe a new bridge is necessary to improve road safety, protestors believe the demolition is an act of environmental vandalism.

"The strongest possible protest regarding this and the disgust of the local community was made known to these public servants and public representatives," a representative from the Save Clydagh Bridge group wrote on its Facebook page.