Dublin’s famous Ha’penny Bridge at night. It was the first iron bridge in Ireland, paid for by former ferryman William Walsh whose ferries across the Liffey were becoming unsafe. He was given the ultimatum that he had either to upgrade his seven ferries or provide a bridge over the Liffey. He chose the latter, paying £3000, but securing the right to charge a ha’penny for pedestrians to cross.
Originally called the Duke of Wellington Bridge, in 1922 its name was changed to the Liffey Bridge. That is still its official name, though it is most often called the Ha’penny Bridge in memory of the tolls, which were removed in 1919.
By 2001, 27,000 pedestirans were crossing daily, so it was rebuilt, using as many of the original components as possible.
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