Rosie Hackett Bridge Officially Opens

Dublin’s newest Liffey crossing, the Rosie Hackett Bridge, was officially opened yesterday by the Lord Mayor of the city, Oisín Quinn.

After the construction of the Millenium Bridge and the Santiago Calatravo designed James Joyce and Samuel Beckett Bridges, the city has become well accustomed to the appearance of these new structures over the last decade or so.

The new Rosie Hackett Bridge, located between O’Connell Bridge and the Talbot Memorial Bridge, and connecting Eden and Burgh Quays, was constructed primarily to carry the new cross-city LUAS line.

Rosie Hackett was born and bred in Dublin, and worked at the Jacob’s Biscuit factory in Bishop Street, where she became involved in organising the workers, seeking better working conditions. She later went on to found the Irish Women Workers Union along with Delia Larkin, and also personally handed the Proclamation to James Connolly during the 1916 Rising. She died in 1976, at the age of 82.

Dublin City Council invited submissions from members of the public last year on a name for the bridge. From the five names shortlisted from the 85 original nominations, Rosie Hackett’s name was chosen after a ballot in the City Council. This is only the third bridge over the Liffey to be named after a woman – the other two are Sarah’s Bridge at Islandbridge and the Anna Livia Bridge at Lucan.