Banagher Bridge

Banagher Bridge carries the road from Offaly into County Galway right beside the marina. The present bridge was built by the Shannon Commissioners in 1841–43 to plans by Thomas Rhodes, and an Offaly heritage review rates it of national importance, with the longest masonry arches of any bridge in the county. It once had a swing span for masted boats, but that was removed when the two county councils widened the bridge in 1971, so it no longer opens. Its predecessor of 1685, which Sarsfield’s army used during the Williamite war, was blown up in 1843; one abutment still stands by Cromwell’s Castle on the Galway side. Waterways Ireland gives a clearance of 5.93 m at ordinary summer level (March 2025 figures, published by IWAI); there is less headroom when the river is high, so check the gauge.