Lanesborough Bridge

Lanesborough Bridge carries the N63 between Lanesborough in County Longford and Ballyleague in County Roscommon, just where the Shannon leaves Lough Ree. People crossed here long before any bridge, at the ford of stones that gave the place its Irish name. A stone bridge of nine arches built in 1706 was replaced in 1844 by one with a swivel arch for large boats; the swivel was taken out in the 1960s and the present concrete span followed in 1971, so the bridge no longer opens. Waterways Ireland figures published by the IWAI give 5.25 m of clearance at ordinary summer level and a width of about 12 m. The public harbour is close by on the Roscommon bank; above the bridge the river winds north towards Tarmonbarry.