Ballyvoile
Bridge re-opened August 1923
Munster
Express 18 Aug 1923
The first vehicle to cross over the bridge was a float
driven by Mr. Thomas Beatty with a load of goods from the Durrow Railway
Station. He is proud to have been the
first to cross, but now the bridge is being used by every kind of car.
It is now exactly 12 months since the centre arch of
the Ballyvoile bridge was blown up. On
the same evening the fine structure the railway bridge, so unique in its way,
had also one of its arches blown away.
It held for some days but...a second arch gave way. This in a few days was followed by the entire
collapse of the fine bridge...rising 108 feet above the bed of the ravine.
The second bridge would have suffered a like fate, but
Mr Bowen, the Co. Surveyor, with commendable foresight, set to work and placed
between the pillars of the broken arch, stout timber baulks.The bridge was
built under the supervision of Mr. Tarrant about 60 years ago.
Limestone of excellent quality will form the
parapet. These blocks are now in the
hands of stone cutters. It is said that
the railway bridge is about being began.
It was comparatively unknown to many before the
destruction. Now the story of its damage
and desolation have gone around the world and this week a letter reached me
giving information of an illustration of the bridge in the Melbourne Argus.
If you would like to learn more about the history of
Ballyvoile Bridge there is a information on it in the book "The Towns
& Villages of the Waterford Greenway" which is available for sale in
the museum as well as in shops locally.
