Rosie Hackett Bridge
Rosie Hackett Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge spanning the River Liffey in the heart of Dublin city, connecting Marlborough Street on the north bank to Hawkins Street on the south bank. Opened in May 2014, it is one of the most recent additions to Dublin's collection of Liffey crossings and holds the distinction of being the first bridge in the city named after a woman in over a century. It is a working bridge in the truest sense — busy with commuters, shoppers, tourists, and cyclists at almost every hour of the day — and it also serves as a node for Dublin Bus and has become an integral part of the city's public transport infrastructure, particularly for those connecting to and from the central bus corridors along the quays.
The bridge is named in honour of Rosanna "Rosie" Hackett (1893–1976), a remarkable Dublin trade unionist and republican activist who devoted much of her life to labour rights and Irish independence. Hackett was a member of the Irish Women Workers' Union and played a significant role in the 1913 Dublin Lockout, one of the most dramatic and consequential labour disputes in Irish history. She worked at Jacob's Biscuit Factory and was involved in organising workers during that tumultuous period. She also participated in the 1916 Easter Rising, working in Liberty Hall — which stands just a short distance upriver from the bridge — helping to print the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and operating a first aid post. The decision to name the bridge after her was made by Dublin City Council following a public poll, and her selection was widely welcomed as a long-overdue recognition of women's contributions to Irish public life and history.
The bridge itself is a striking piece of contemporary engineering and design. It was designed by Roughan & O'Donovan engineers in collaboration with Dmod Architects and constructed by Graham Construction. The structure features a slim, elegant profile with a slightly curved, cantilevered deck and a sculptural arch that leans gently outward over the water. Its surface is finished with reddish-brown anti-slip decking, and the balustrades are made from stainless steel with a delicate latticed pattern that catches the light. At roughly 40 metres long and 12 metres wide, it is generously proportioned for a pedestrian bridge, making it comfortable for cyclists and prams as well as foot traffic. The bridge also features dedicated bus stops on both its north and south approaches, integrating it directly into Dublin's bus network.
Standing on the bridge and looking west, one has a clear view toward O'Connell Bridge and the iconic dome of the Custom House slightly downriver to the east. Liberty Hall, the headquarters of SIPTU (the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union), rises conspicuously on the north bank just beside the bridge, a tower with deep symbolic resonance given Rosie Hackett's own connections to the original Liberty Hall building. The sound environment on the bridge is quintessentially urban Dublin — the murmur of the Liffey below, the rumble of buses on the quays, the chatter of pedestrians. On a breezy day the river wind is felt keenly, making the bridge feel exposed and alive.
The surrounding area is densely urban and historically rich. To the south, Hawkins Street leads toward Poolbeg Street and the old newspaper district, while the area around Tara Street DART station is just a short walk away, providing rail connections across the city. The Abbey Theatre, Ireland's national theatre, is within a few minutes' walk to the north on Abbey Street, and O'Connell Street — Dublin's principal thoroughfare — is equally close. The Custom House, a masterpiece of Georgian architecture designed by James Gandon in the 1780s, is visible from the bridge itself. The north quays near the bridge were historically associated with commerce and industry, and today the area is in transition, with cultural institutions, hotels, and offices reshaping what was once a working dockland fringe.
For visitors, the bridge is freely and permanently accessible at all hours, requiring no admission and presenting no barriers. The approach from the south side via Hawkins Street connects directly to the city's cultural quarter and shopping areas, while the north side connects to the Abbey Street transport corridor and the broader Northside. The bridge is very well served by Dublin Bus, and the Tara Street DART station to the south provides easy rail access. For cyclists, the bridge provides a smooth, level crossing on a dedicated surface. The best times to experience the bridge as a place rather than merely a thoroughfare are early morning, when the Liffey light is calm and the quays are quieter, or in the evening when the city's illuminations reflect off the water. There are no entrance fees, guided tours, or ticketing of any kind — the bridge belongs entirely to the public life of the city.
One of the more touching details associated with the bridge is the small plaque and commemorative elements marking Hackett's life and legacy. The naming ceremony in 2014 was attended by members of the Irish labour movement and descendants of Hackett herself, and the occasion was seen as part of a broader reckoning with the role of women in Ireland's revolutionary and labour history — a reckoning that has only deepened in the decade since. The bridge in this sense is not merely infrastructure but a form of public memory, embedding the name of a working-class woman activist into the daily geography of the capital. In a city where bridges have historically been named after male political figures, military leaders, or royalty, Rosie Hackett Bridge represents a quietly radical act of commemoration.