Seán O’Casey Bridge

The latest bridge across the Liffey is this 100 metre span pedestrian affair from 2005. Named after playwright Seán O’Casey who was born just 20 mins walk away on Dorset Street in 1880.
Designed by architect Cyril O’Neill to link the north and south quays and rejuvenate both, as part of the ongoing regeneration of the docklands area.
It’s a swing bridge, and it’s two balanced cantilever arm sections can swing open 90 degrees to allow boats to pass up & down the river. It works on a system of hydraulics, but doesn’t seem to open very often.
I don’t live in Dub all the time, bit I’m here quite a bit, and I’ve rarely seen it open. Which is a shame. It’s rare that vessels too big for it come up river anyway these days,
It’s the last but one bridge downstream on the river, (the final one is the East Link Toll Bridge, Ringsend), before Dublin Bay.
It’s an attractive sleek looking design, very light & graceful, and because you know it’s got moving parts, potentially fun too. A very useful bridge say if you’re walking on foot between Connolly and Pearse stations on opposite sides of the river, or a fast way to cut across to Trinity college or Merrion Square if you’re coming from the area around the IFSC (International Financial Services Centre).
Wide enough I’d have thought to have your average sized persons walking in a row 10 abreast, God forbid it should ever be that busy! Nice & springy underfoot too, if you’re ever running across, but watch out for the occasional crazy cyclist bombing across at you!
Lovely view from here looking downstream too.