Galway - Salmon Weir Bridge

The River Corrib is spanned by three bridges. The one farthest upstream, built in 1818, is the Salmon Weir Bridge, where hundreds of salmon can be seen in spring on their way up river to the huge expanse of Lough Corrib - a journey of only 4mi/6km from the sea.

There is a strong tidal movement on the river here, with a rapid ebb at low tide and an equally rapid flow upstream when the tide changes.

The middle bridge, O'Brien's Bridge, is the oldest, its existence being first recorded in 1342. The Claddagh Bridge (a swing bridge) at the south end of the town takes its name from an old fishermen's quarter on the right bank of the Corrib which was occupied for centuries by a fishermen's guild but has now given place to modern buildings. The only relic of the old guild is the "Claddagh ring," a traditional form of wedding ring with two hands clasping a heart which was worn as an amulet and handed down from mother to daughter.