Montpelier, County Limerick facts for kids
Montpelier (Irish: Montpelier) is a small village and a townland located in the eastern part of County Limerick, Ireland. It sits right on the east bank of the famous River Shannon. Montpelier is connected to O'Briensbridge in County Clare by a long stone bridge with 14 arches.
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Exploring Montpelier's Bridge
The bridge at Montpelier is a very old and important crossing point over the River Shannon. It has a long history, with different parts built at different times.
The First Bridge
The very first bridge built here was in 1506. It was constructed by Turlough O'Brien, who was the First Earl of Thomond, and his brother, who was the Bishop of Killaloe. This shows how important this crossing was even hundreds of years ago.
How the Bridge Changed Over Time
The 16th-century bridge was either replaced or rebuilt around 1750. The five arches on the west side of the bridge today are from this period. Later, in 1842, the six arches on the east side were replaced by the Shannon Commissioners. These commissioners were in charge of managing the river.
Modern Updates to the Bridge
Even more recently, between 1925 and 1929, the first arch on the west side was changed. This happened when the Shannon Scheme was built downstream. The new arch was designed to allow boats to pass through easily. Today, the bridge carries the R466 roadway, connecting people and places.
Montpelier's Ancient Name
The old river-crossing at Montpelier is thought to be the same place as Áth Caille. This name means "Ford of the Wood." It was one of the three most important fords mentioned in the ancient Irish text called the Triads of Ireland. The other two famous fords were Áth Clíath (which is now Dublin) and Áth Lúain (which is now Athlone). This shows how historically significant Montpelier's location has always been.
