Dripsey Bridge

Dripsey Bridge is a six-arch bridge spanning the Dripsey River in County Cork, Ireland. Although its construction date is unknown, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage entry for the stone structure suggests that it was "extant" in 1780. It is depicted on both the 1811 Grand Jury map and the 1845 Ordnance Survey maps of the area. It was damaged in 1921 during the Dripsey Ambush that occurred in the Irish War of Independence. The bridge is included in the Record of Protected Structures maintained by Cork County Council.

Architecture

The bridge, originally a small stone structure, has been enlarged and restored over the years. Its current design incorporates six round arches and triangular cutwaters on its piers to manage water flow. It has three additional overflow arches at the eastern end. Pyramidal caps and soldier course copings adorn the parapets. Made of coursed rubble stone, the bridge is traversed by the R618 regional road.

Folklore

Folklore, associated with the bridge, includes a story about a "fairy" in an 1846 article titled "Irish Legends" published in Ainsworth's Magazine. This story, attributed to an unnamed inhabitant of Cork city, recounted that: