MacNeill's Egyptian Arch

Macneill's Egyptian Arch is a railway bridge in Newry, Northern Ireland. Construction was completed in 1851 for the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Company and was the result of collaboration between engineer Sir John Macneill and constructor William Dargan. Locally known as the Egyptian Arch, the rail bridge passes over the Newry–Camlough Road, in the County Armagh half of Newry.[1]

Macneill's Egyptian Arch

Macneill's Egyptian Arch, from the West side

It is located approximately 2 miles from the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on the Dublin–Belfast railway line. It is located less than 1 mile along the line from the 18 Arches viaduct, also known as the Craigmore Viaduct.

The Egyptian Arch gained its name from its resemblance to the nemes headdress worn by Ancient Egyptian pharaohs. The bridge was selected for the design of the £1 coin to represent Northern Ireland for 2006. All four of the bridge design pound coins for each constituent part of the UK were designed by wood engraver Edwina Ellis in a Royal Mint design competition.

The bridge was also the location of the Egyptian Arch Ambush of 13 December 1920.[2][3]

References

1. WA McCutcheon. "Macneill's Egyptian Arch". The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
2. Newry Journal Archived 11 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
3. "Burns/Moley". Burns/Moley. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2013.