O'Shaughnessy Footbridge, Galway
The River Corrib is a fast-flowing stream which links
Lough Corrib with the sea at Galway Bay. The older part of the City of Galway
stands on the east bank of the River as it enters Galway Bay, but much of the
more recent part of the City has spread to the west bank and to the numerous
islands in the mouth of the river, criss-crosed by a number of channels (or
canals). The
O'Shaughnessy Footbridge was a joint initiative between the City
Transportation Unit and the National University of Ireland, Galway. The striking
50 metre long modern bridge which was opened in July 2012 links Fisheries
Field at the north end of Nun's Island (on which Galway Cathedral stands) with
the University campus on the west bank. It spans two water courses - the
Eglinton Canal, and a much smaller mill race on Nun's Island. Michael
O'Shaughnessy (1864-1934) for whom the bridge is named, graduated in Civil
Engineering from the Queen's College, Galway (as it was then known) in 1884 and
went on to a distinguished career as Chief Engineer for the City of San
Francisco.
