Michael Davitt Bridge

The Michael Davitt Bridge is a swing bridge in County Mayo, Ireland that crosses from Achill Island to the Mainland.

The plan for a bridge to connect Achill Island to the Corraun Peninsula was considered in the early 1880s. A Mayo County surveyor drew up plans, which were approved by J. Price, a civil engineer. The official authorization was received from The Board of Trade in London and in 1883 an administrative body was organized to finance it ; total cost was projected to be approximately £5,000. The costs exceeded the estimates. However, John Grey Vesey Porter of County Fermanagh contributed his personal funds, so that the bridge could be built as designed. The bridge's structure consisted of a steel bowstring girder construction with a span of 37 m pivoting on a central pier. The roadway was 2.4 m in width. It was named for Michael Davitt, 19th Century Irish social campaigner, Fenian, and founder of the National Land League. Davitt officially opened the bridge in 1887.

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