Butt Bridge is a Dublin road bridge that crosses the Liffey to link George’s Quay and Beresford Place with the north quays of Liberty Hall. Very busy, it is one of the capital’s most “industrial” bridges.
Butt Bridge dates back to 1879, and was named after Isac Butt, the man behind Home Rule. Built of wrought iron, and weighing over 200 tonnes at the time, the Butt Bridge was a movable bridge used to carry boats across the Liffey.
Over time, the bridge was modified to better handle road and river traffic. Reinforced with reinforced concrete in 1932, it still retains its original central span.
Admittedly, the bridge is not an absolute beauty compared to its counterparts such as the Ha’Penny Bridge or the Samuel Beckett Bridge. It is, however, emblematic of Dublin, which knows how to combine the past and modernism to perfection.
free access