Survey Data
Reg No
30407404
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Scientific, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1790 - 1810
Coordinates
184189, 234646
Date Recorded
27/10/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Nine-arch bridge over river, c.1800. Coursed rubble limestone walls having cut-limestone rounded coping. Series of nine segmental arches between tooled limestone ashlar triangular cutwaters with tooled limestone ashlar voussoirs. Sited spanning River Suck with grass banks to river.
Appraisal
A bridge making a pleasing visual statement at a crossing over the River Suck. NOTE: Bellagill Bridge is given as the scene of the last fatal duel in Ireland which took place on the morning of Friday 28th May 1841 between Malachy Kelly (d. 1841) of Woodmount and Owen Lynch (d. 1894) of Rathpeak in County Roscommon. The duel was prompted when, at a horse racing event, the accomplished jockey Kelly refused to mount and race a horse owned by Lynch. An argument ensued, apologies were offered but refused, and Kelly challenged Lynch to a duel. Both men, armed with pistols, stood back-to-back on the centre of Bellagill Bridge, walked twelve paces, turned and fired. Kelly missed Lynch but Lynch shot Kelly in the pelvis and, his injury inoperable, he 'expired from the mortification of the wound' on Thursday 3rd June 1841 (The Annual Register of a View of the History and Politics of the Year 1841 1842, 208). Lynch evaded the authorities for a year but was eventually arrested, charged with wilful murder and brought to trial in Galway in July 1842 where 'the jury, after an hour's consultation, brought in a verdict of "Not Guilty". There were some manifestations of applause which were instantly checked' (The Annual Register of a View of the History and Politics of the Year 1842 1843, 132).