Babe's Bridge is the remains of a 13th Century bridge[1] over the River Boyne near Navan, County Meath, in Ireland. The southeast span is extant along with remains of some of the abutments in the river.

Babe's Bridge
Coordinates53°40′18″N 6°39′12″W / 53.67167°N 6.65333°W / 53.67167; -6.65333
CrossesRiver Boyne
Next upstreamAthlumley Bridge
Next downstreamBroadboyne Bridge
Characteristics
MaterialStone
Traversable?No
Location
Map

The remaining arch is owned by the heritage trust An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland as part of the Boyne Navigation property.[2]

Remaining arch of Babe's Bridge over the River Boyne
Remaining arch of Babe's Bridge over the River Boyne

Etymology

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Babe's Bridge was named after the local Norman landowner John le Baub who owned the land where the bridge was built.[3]

History

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20th century

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In the 1980's the Office of Public Works carried out an underpinning of the north abutment in concrete with assistance from Meath County Council.[4]

21st century

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In 2021 An Taisce and Meath County Council were awarded funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's Community Monuments Fund to carry out conservation studies for the structure.[5]

Future

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An Taisce is seeking funding to carry out conservation works.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ "Navan Historical Society - Babes Bridge". www.navanhistory.ie. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  2. ^ "Boyne Navigation, Co. Meath". An Taisce - The National Trust For Ireland. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  3. ^ "Navan Historical Society - Babes Bridge". www.navanhistory.ie. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  4. ^ "The saving of Babe's BridgeSave the datesfor Heritage Week". Meath Chronicle. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  5. ^ "Minister Noonan announces 2021 Community Monuments Fund grants of over €4 million". www.gov.ie. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  6. ^ "Babe's Bridge". An Taisce - The National Trust For Ireland. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-28.