Garfinny Bridge

Garfinny Bridge is a medieval bridge which crosses the Garfinny River (Abhainn na Gairfeanaí), approximately 2.5km north-east of Dingle town. The bridge is thought to have been built in the 14^th or 15^th century, and is reputed to be the oldest bridge in Ireland. It is the only bridge in to have been declared a National Monument by the Irish Government.

The bridge’s arch was constructed using radial stones held together using a corbelling technique, and the bridge rises to a height of 3 metres above the level of the river water. The bridge is 16 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. The road surface across the top of the bridge was paved with drystone slabs and two low walls on either side of the bridge were also built using dry stone techniques.

According to local tradition an English army of 800 men, under the command of Baron Arthur Grey, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, crossed the bridge en-route to attack the garrison at Dún an Óir promontory fort in November 1580 during the Second Desmond Rebellion. The bridge was in daily use until the 19^th century when it began to deteriorate under an increasing volume of traffic and was replaced with a more modern bridge built a short distance upstream.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014