Traders relieved as restoration work on the Ha'penny Bridge is postponed until after the Christmas rush.
The Ha'penny Bridge, also known as the Metal Bridge, and officially named Wellington Bridge, is one of Dublin's most picturesque landmarks.
It is the only pedestrian bridge crossing the Liffey.
Every 15 years or so, the wooden bridge is closed to facilitate repairs to the boardwalk. Dublin Corporation plans to undertake a £21,000 overhaul of the bridge, which will see it closed from 27 October to 7 December 1980.
Traders in the area, including Arnotts, Marks and Spencer, and Roches Stores, say the bridge is a vital link for shoppers coming to Henry Street. They fear that if the bridge is closed before Christmas, their trade will be adversely affected.
Traders in Liffey Street opposite the bridge are already unhappy about the introduction of bus lanes in the area over the last fortnight. They say this has reduced footfall and cut business by 20%.
The traders threatened to picket the Ha'penny Bridge when the repair work was due to start. However, a compromise was reached between the traders and Dublin Corporation. The Ha'penny Bridge will remain open for the Christmas period, with the work scheduled to start on 20 January 1981. A spokesperson for the traders, Brian Ross, believes that Dublin Corporation decided to postpone the repairs when it became clear that 100 retail jobs would be lost if the work went ahead as originally planned.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 October 1980. The reporter is Reg Cullen.
