Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway

Built in 1818–1819, the Salmon Weir Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge across the River Corrib in Galway. It was constructed to link the county courthouse with the old jail, which once stood on the site now occupied by Galway Cathedral. Made of local limestone, the bridge consists of multiple arches that span the fast-flowing Corrib, one of the shortest yet most powerful rivers in Europe.

The bridge quickly became one of Galway’s landmarks, especially popular during the salmon runs in spring and early summer, when fish can be seen leaping upriver to spawn. Visitors often pause here to watch the water surge through the weir and to take in views of the Cathedral upstream and the Wolfe Tone Bridge downstream.

For centuries, the Corrib fisheries were of great importance to Galway. In medieval times, they were controlled by local religious orders such as the Franciscans, before being transferred to private hands after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. These fishing rights were long associated with prominent Galway families like the Lynches.

A new pedestrian and cycle bridge, opened in 2023, now stands beside the historic structure, easing modern traffic while preserving the character of the old bridge. Today, the Salmon Weir Bridge remains both a practical crossing and a favorite vantage point for locals and visitors drawn by the river’s force and the movement of the salmon below.