*Cllr Pat Burke. Photograph: Martin Connolly
REPAIR WORKS are to be considered for the “well-known landmark” in East Clare called ‘Mickey Two Tailors’ bridge.
Located on the L80781 on the Clare to Galway border, ‘Mickey Two Tailors’ bridge which is also known as Derroran Bridge spans a stream that flows eastward to Lough Alewnaghta and onwards to Lough Derg at Rinbarra Point.
It is named after a local man called Mickey Taylor, “he was also a tailor so a tailor by name and trade,” Cllr Pat Burke (FG) explained. He sought repairs to the bridge north of Mountshannon.
Acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe Municipal District, Derek Troy in response to Burke’s motion outlined that the bridge would be forwarded to Clare County Council’s roads department for inspection. “It will be considered for repair works under the Bridge Rehabilitation Works on regional and local roads programme as part of the annual Department of Transport grant allocations”.
“We can’t always trust Google Maps but it is a well-known landmark,” Burke remarked. “It is not the most traversed road in our Municipal District but it is an important landmark,” he added. Located on the East Clare Way, he said the road is used by walkers who park nearby. “Walls of the bridge have fallen into the river at one side, beautiful cuts of stone have been stolen from the top of the wall, I look forward to the day when it can be worked on”.
Work done by the local authority on bridges “bringing them to proper standard” was praised by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), “it is great to see natural stone being maintained”. Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) stated, “There are some very quiet roads in areas that wouldn’t have been expected to have bridges done but have had them done”.
