By Róise Collins

CALLS have been made for urgent repairs or for a new bridge to be built to preserve a historic bridge on the outskirts of Falcarragh, named locally as the Bridge of Tears.

The issue was raised at Tuesday’s meeting of the Glenties Municipal District by Cllr John Sheamuis O’Fearraigh, who spoke of the bridge’s local significance and its poignant history of emigration.

The stone bridge, located on the Muckish Road, was traditionally the final farewell point for many emigrants leaving the area.

Their loved ones would walk with them to the bridge where emotional goodbyes were exchanged. Many of those who left never returned.

A stone plaque beside the bridge reads: “Fad leis seo a thagadh cairde agus lucht gaoil an té a bhí ag imeacht chun na coigrithe. B’anseo an scaradh. Seo Droichead na nDeor.”

Which translated to “Family and friends of the person leaving for foreign lands would come this far. Here was the separation. This is the Bridge of Tears”. The bridge has inspired several works, including Percy French’s famous song The Irish Mother and Clannad’s haunting piece The Bridge of Tears.