The Samuel Beckett Bridge has become such an evocative emblem of Dublin that it feels like it’s been there far longer than its mere eight years or so.
Of course, the timing of this wonderful symbol of a prosperous and vibrant 21st century European capital could hardly have been worse.
Construction began in 2007 – the year before the Celtic Tiger bolted from the stable, leaving the door swinging forlornly in the harsh wind of the new recession. It opened in late 2009.
The Beckett Bridge was designed by the wonderful Santiago Calatrava, the Spaniard who is responsible for the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, among many other stunning architectural achievements around the world.