A CONNEMARA community has been firmly reunited almost two years after the village bridge was washed away in a storm.
Locals and tourists in Leenane have been using a temporary bridge since the stone structure, built in 1822, was swept away in torrential rains in July 2007.
For two weeks in the summer of 2007 motorists had to take detours of up to 100 kilometres just to get to opposite ends of the village, which gained global recognition in 1989 for the film version of John B Keane’s play The Field. The disruption over the past two years is estimated to have cost the local tourist industry a large amount of money, but yesterday the village’s new €1.65 million bridge was officially opened.
Leenane community spokeswoman Ann Donald Joyce said that work on the new bridge had caused enormous disruption but now they were looking forward to the new season when an estimated 4,000 vehicles will use the bridge daily.
“Thousands and thousands of tourists simply didn’t bother stopping here because there was nowhere for them to pull in,” she said.
“All the car parks were occupied by building machinery and workers’ cars as the rebuilding was going on.
“It was very frustrating for local people and especially local businesses.
“We have had two years of disruption to everyone’s lives but everybody has been patient and we are now back in business,” she added.
Nobody was injured when the river Lahill rose to unprecedented levels on July 19th, 2007, as the torrent swept away the supporting arches of the bridge before the entire structure crumbled.
Mayor of Co Galway Councillor Peter Feeney formally opened the replacement structure.
Galway county manager Martina Moloney complimented those involved in the design and construction of the bridge.
“The bridge has been appropriately designed and built in order to complement its unique environment and has provided the village with not only a vital piece of infrastructure, but also an attractive and appropriate focal point in keeping with the unique and natural setting of the village,” Ms Moloney said.