Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Built in May 1816, the Ha'penny Bridge was the first dedicated footbridge over the River Liffey and the first iron bridge in Ireland. Before it existed, Dubliners relied on ferries to cross the river, a service that was inconvenient, unreliable, and sometimes dangerous.

The bridge was cast in Shropshire, England by the Coalbrookdale Company, using iron ore originally mined in County Leitrim. The cast iron ribs were manufactured in 18 sections and shipped to Dublin for assembly. Its elegant arched design has made it one of the most photographed landmarks in the city.

The name tells you everything about its early economics. William Walsh, a ferry owner and alderman, held the right to charge a ha'penny (half a penny) toll for each pedestrian crossing. He maintained this right for 100 years. The bridge was officially called the Wellington Bridge after Dublin-born Duke of Wellington, and later renamed Liffey Bridge after Irish independence in 1922. But Dubliners always called it the Ha'penny Bridge, and that is the name that stuck.

By 2001, the bridge carried 27,000 pedestrians daily and needed serious renovation. It reopened in December 2001 restored to its original white color, looking much as it did when those first footsteps crossed it nearly two centuries ago.

Crossing the Ha'penny Bridge at dusk, with the Liffey reflecting the city lights below, is one of Dublin's essential experiences. A Questo quest along the river connects this bridge with the stories of the quays, turning a simple crossing into a chapter of Dublin's history.