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The Ha’penny Bridge is a cast-iron pedestrian bridge that was built over the River Liffey in 1816 and is one of the city’s most delightful landmarks. Originally named the Wellington, this graceful and recognisable structure was later renamed the Liffey Bridge. However it has always been known among the locals as the Ha’penny Bridge because of the half penny toll that one would have been charged to walk across it. The toll was eventually dropped in 1919.
Nowadays, Dublin locals and tourists alike can walk across the Ha’penny Bridge without having to keep an eye out for passing traffic and while one is standing on it, in the middle of the River Liffey, one can truly say that they are at the very centre of Dublin. When it comes to crossing the Liffey to get to the north or south side of the city you obviously have quite a variety of bridges to choose from but the sheer character of the Ha’penny Bridge is hard to replicate.
Perhaps it’s for this reason that over 27,000 people cross the Ha’penny Bridge on a daily basis. The bridge was repaired and renovated in 2003 and even repainted in its original white colour. This way, as you walk across its graceful arches, you can take yourself back to the Dublin of a bygone era and imagine yourself transported to the 19th Century – at least until you get to the other side.
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