The Old Bridge ‘Salmon are waiting for the tide to still the weir Boys are fishing from a bridge built before Columbus raised a sail!’

The Old Bridge was Built in 1447 By Edmund Mac Richard Butler at the tidal limits of the river Suir. The bridge was for centuries the first bridge above the estuary of the river, and hence strategically important as a link between south Leinster and east Munster.

Across the river on Tipperary side is the Ormonde Castle from which family came the charter to build the original old bridge.

The old bridge at the time had two gates at either side. Which brought revenue into the town through tolls and taxes. The ‘Nail House was located in the centre and this may have been a forge at one time.

On the 8th of February ,1799,a barge from Clonmel carrying eleven men, forty women and about sixty children smashed against the bridge in conditions of a heavy flood. Over one hundred were drowned.

In the 1920s it was blown up during the war of independence.

The old bridge before it was rebuilt.

The central part of the old bridge like wise the Dillon Bridge was destroyed by retreating IRA forces in 1922 in attempt to slow the advance of free state army,but both were rebuilt by 1927.

The Dillon Bridge early 20th Century

The bridge links Carrick On Suir ( Tipperary ) to Carrickbeg (Waterford) . A stroll across the bridge takes you up to Saint Mollerans 's Church and The Famine Wall built by the poor destitute and hungry during the 1840’s Other Sites of Interest

And finally..... If I want more info on Carrick Black Tom, where would I go? Head over to Patsy and the lads in the Heritage Centre!!