On site talk on Babe's Bridge Restoration Project

Meet on site at Babe's Bridge which is along the Boyne Navigation Towpath at coordinates 53.67177719201713, -6.653602442393343. It is a 2km walk or cycle along the towpath from Athlumley at 53.657262719522315, -6.667431087178581 or a 3.5 km walk from Broadboyne Bridge at 53.68326644674545, -6.609993936700687.

Babe's Bridge, dating from the early thirteenth century, is arguably the oldest surviving stone bridge arch in Ireland. The southernmost arch remains standing with parts of the piers of the other arches remaining in the river. https://www.antaisce.org/babes-bridge

An Taisce in partnership with Meath County Council have just completed a restoration of the bridge arch and foundations with funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's Communities Monument Fund. The on site talk will outline the history of the bridge and the recent restoration works.

The project team and supporters were:
- Property owner: An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland
- Local Authority and Communities Monument Fund partner: Meath County Council
- Funder: Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage
- Conservation Architects: 7L Architects
- Structural & Civil Engineers: CORA Consulting Engineers
- Underwater Archaeology: The Archaeological Diving Company Ltd
- Bat Survey: Bat Eco Services
- Project Ecologists: Ecofact Ltd. and Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants Ltd.
- Laser Scan Recording: The Discovery Programme
- Contractor: Triur Construction
- Navan and District Historical Society have researched the history of the bridge and championed it.
- Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Boyne Navigation Branch help maintain and restore the towpath and canal. You can learn more or volunteer with them at https://www.boyne.iwai.ie.

The planning file at https://www.eplanning.ie/MeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/23331/0 contains a wealth of information on the bridge and site including:
- outline of the history of the bridge and site and the conservation approach taken
- ecological surveys
- images from the 3D laser survey of the bridge
- detailed drawings of the bridge and proposed works