Re-opening of Mallow viaduct heralded as a sign of returned normality
The rebuilt bridge, destroyed during the civil war, is the first major piece of Government reconstruction
Mallow, 16 October 1923 - The re-opening yesterday of the Mallow Viaduct over the River Blackwater has been hailed by President Cosgrave as a sign of a return to normal conditions.
It is also the first major work of reconstruction to be completed by the Free State government. The new structure, a triumph of modern engineering, carries the railway line across the Blackwater at a height that affords the traveller a commanding view of the countryside around, and of the town of Mallow which is positioned within the valley.
The presence of President Cosgrave underscored the significance of the event as did the presence of his fellow cabinet members, Mr. Ernest Blythe, the new Minister for Finance; General Richard Mulcahy, Minister for Defence; Mr. JJ Walsh, Postmaster general; and Mr. Michael Hayes, Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil.
The first train to make its passage on the new viadcut ( Image: Irish Independent, 16 October 1923)
The original viaduct, which was operated by the great Southern and Western Railway Company (GS & WR), was destroyed by anti-Treaty forces in August 1922, was constructed using 10,000 tons of masonry in ten arch spans. This has now been replaced by a new steel viaduct, the construction of which has been hampered by labour disputes in Cork. The bridge consists of ten plate girder spans which carry to length of 515ft and with load-bearing capacity that is 15% greater than the heaviest engine in use on the GS & WR system.
President Cosgrave said that he hoped that when, in years to come, those responsible for the destruction and demolition of the bridge reflected on their ill-advised work, he hoped that they would use their influence to prevent any similar misguided acts from being repeated. The re-opening of the railway viaduct is considered not only critical to the local economic life of Mallow and Cork, but to industries in the whole Munster region.
Pathe footage of Mallow Viaduct opening by President Cosgrave, who drove the first train over the new structure,
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
