Irish Examiner View: A Cork city icon restored

Every city has a few iconic images that identify it: The GPO in Dublin, the salmon weir in Galway, Thomond Park in Limerick.

Cork’s Daly’s Bridge — the Shakey Bridge — is one that any Cork person, no matter where they live, immediately recognises. It has been part of the city’s landscape since it was opened in 1927.

Because of long neglect it had deteriorated to the point that the city had to, after some pressure from this newspaper, undertake a €1.7m programme of renovations which involved dismantling the bridge, removing it, and restoring it.

The final pieces of the renewed suspension bridge are due to be put in place this weekend, though it will be some weeks before it will be reopened.

The project has thus far been a great success even if regular maintenance of such a significant part of the city’s heritage might have made it unnecessary.

It is also a reminder of the positive, enduring social role of philanthropy. The bridge was funded by businessman James Daly, who, all of those years ago, set an example of proactive civic pride others might follow today.