Bridges of Ireland

A cover from Ireland with 2018 Europa stamp - Bridges 

The €1 stamp features the dramatic footbridge at Mizen Head in County Cork. The bridge was constructed in 2011 and is a near-replica of the original Victorian steel structure which was completed in 1909 crossing a sea gorge.The new Mizen Head Footbridge is a reinforced concrete through-arch structure that spans 50m across a sea gorge to connect the island of Cloghán, at the tip of Mizen Head, with the mainland in South-west Cork, Republic of Ireland. RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd. used LUSAS Bridge analysis software to structurally assess an ageing bridge that stood at the same location and to assist with the design and assessment of the effects of constructing a visually identical new replacement structure in stages around the original bridge at the same time as it was being sequentially demolished.

New Mizen Head Footbridge opened to the public on St Patrick’s Day, 17th March 2011. It was delivered safely, within budget and stands as testimony to a very successful collaboration between the client, Cork County Council, the contractor, Carillion Irishenco Ltd, RB International - the contractor's construction engineer, and RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd.

The €1.50 stamp features the Boyne Viaduct in County Louth. Opened in 1855, the viaduct is a 30-metre-high railway bridge that crosses the River Boyne in Drogheda and carries the main Dublin–Belfast railway line. At the time of opening, it was only the seventh bridge of its kind in the world and was considered one of the wonders of the age. The viaduct is listed as a heritage structure by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
During World War II, the viaduct was identified by the British as being of great strategic importance as part of the British plans for a counter-attack following a German invasion of Ireland.

Thanks Fabio for the nice cover !