An Irishman’s Diary on naming bridges

Bridge-building has long been a fundamental part of the peace process in the North, with many attempts to reach harmony through cross-community events. From the physical point of view, the greatest manifestation of the literal meaning of the phrase is the Peace Bridge in Derry, representing a symbolic handshake between the city’s east and west banks.

But this year has seen a rash of structures erected, replete with a mix of public controversy and colourful history. The naming of a new footbridge in Strabane has divided politicians. Nationalists wanted it called after the late Sinn Féin councillor Ivan Barr but this was rejected. Alternatives included Unity Bridge and the John Dunlap Bridge; Dunlap, who was born in Strabane in 1747, was the printer of the first copies of the American declaration of independence. Another suggestion was to honour one of the town's most celebrated sons, the fast-talking George Cunningham. When he was interviewed on UTV in the early 1970s about the shortage of jobs and the housing crisis in Strabane, Cunningham shot to fame for his high-speed delivery. His rapid-fire answers were later shown on It'll Be Alright On the Night and other programmes, and these days can be viewed on YouTube.

Fourteen miles north, along the banks of the river Foyle, official protection status was announced in October for Derry’s two-tiered Craigavon Bridge. Named after Lord Craigavon, it was completed in 1933, and aside from the art deco details, it is a place redolent with symbolism. On November 16th, 1968, 15,000 people marched across it in the biggest civil rights protest ever seen in the North. Six weeks earlier, on October 5th, 400 marchers had been prevented from crossing the bridge by the RUC. This led to a sit-down protest at Duke Street, followed by police baton-charging and the use of water cannon in scenes captured by RTÉ cameraman Gay O’Brien.

In Belfast this summer, the powers that be adopted a more prosaic approach to the naming of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the river Lagan at Donegall Quay. The elegantly curved and asymmetrical Lagan Weir Bridge, paved in granite and with a handrail of South American hardwood, has become a natural viewing point from where to survey the river traffic and the changing face of the waterfront. A carved inscription in Roman letters with the name and date of the bridge appears on limestone walling. For civic occasions, hidden lighting is programmed to a range of colours but it is not clear if these will mirror those that decorate pavements in parts of the city during the marching season. The designers were influenced by Santiago Calatrava’s Constitution Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice – itself surrounded in controversy after people tripped on the steps when it opened in 2008.

By far the greatest flowering of bridge-building has been at the Gobbins cliff path, a restored coastal walk on Islandmagee in east Antrim. Since its reopening in August at a cost of £7.5 million, thrillseekers have come from many parts of Ireland and further afield to walk along the dramatically sited path. Originally an Edwardian tourist attraction, it captured the public imagination when it opened in 1902. After falling into disrepair, the path closed in 1954 and a large team of architects, builders and steeplejacks were involved in its rebirth.

No fewer than 15 new bridges, suspended crossings and cantilevered walkways have now merged into the landscape of this stretch of coastline, in some cases replacing dilapidated wooden swing bridges. They recreate the spirit and design of the original, including the best known of all, the stainless steel tubular bridge. The walk passes towering basalt cliffs, a cave, waterfall, sea stack and blowholes. It leads through Wise’s Eye, a tunnel named after Berkeley Deane Wise, the chief engineer who designed the original path and was known as “Wise Guy”.

More than 100 years ago, visitors enjoyed the same sea views in the days when there was little concern about the danger of falling from the path. In these health and safety conscious times, before setting out on the steep and narrow walk of 1,400 steps, visitors are required to watch a 10-minute safety video. They must also come clean on any mobility issues, cardiac, respiratory or asthmatic conditions. After a short bus transfer, the walk is led by a knowledgeable local guide while everyone is required to wear a helmet. In case of emergency, a defibrillator is placed along the route.

In due course, the Gobbins bridges are to be given names, although who will be immortalised in them has yet to be announced. Naming a bridge, as history shows, can be fraught with more problems than building it.