Ha’penny Bridge

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE BRIDGE

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When the Ha’penny Bridge first opened, about 450 people used the bridge to cross the river Liffey. In a vastly expanded Dublin, today an average of 30,000 people cross each day free of charge.

In 2001 the number of pedestrians using the bridge on a daily basis was 27,000 and, given these traffic levels, a structural survey indicated that renovation was required. The bridge was closed for repair and renovations during 2001 and was reopened in December 2001, sporting its original white colour.

The structure was rebuilt to retain many of its old components, although, controversially, some features were removed. The repair work was carried out by Harland and Wolff.

In 2012, citing a maintenance and damage risk, Dublin City Council removed a number of love locks from the Ha’penny Bridge and nearby Millennium Bridge, and asked people not to add any more. In 2013 the council removed over 300 kg of locks from the bridge, and signage was added asking people not to put padlocks on the bridge.

On 19 May 2016, the bicentenary of the bridge was celebrated with a symbolic procession over the bridge involving the current Lord Mayor, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, descendants of J.C. Beresford and of John Windsor from England.