MacNeill's Egyptian Arch
Encyclopedia
MacNeill's Egyptian Arch (Irish: Áirse Éigipteach Mac Néill) 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.
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 bridge gained its name from its resemblance to a Pharaoh's
head-piece.
The bridge was selected for the design of the British One Pound 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 Monday 13 December 1920.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Construction was completed in 1851 for the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Company and was the result of collaboration between engineer Sir John Macneill
John Benjamin Macneill
Sir John Benjamin MacNeill FRS was an eminent Irish civil engineer of the 19th century, closely associated with Thomas Telford. His most notable projects were railway schemes in Ireland...
and constructor William Dargan
William Dargan
William Dargan , an engineer, often seen as the father of Irish railways, came from Killeshin, County Laois, Ireland. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire in 1833. He constructed over of railway to important urban centres of Ireland...
. Locally known as the Egyptian Arch, the rail bridge passes over the Newry–Camlough
Camlough
Camlough or Camloch is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is near Bessbrook and the slopes of the Ring of Gullion. It had a population of 910 people in the 2001 Census.- 1920s :...
Road, in the County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
half of Newry.
It is located approximately 2 miles from the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
on the Dublin-Belfast railway line
Dublin-Belfast railway line
The Dublin-Belfast main line is a major railway route in Ireland that connects Dublin Connolly station in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast Central station in Northern Ireland.-History:The railway line was built by three separate companies...
. It is located less than 1 mile along the line from the 18 Arches viaduct, also known as the Craigmore Viaduct
Craigmore Viaduct
The Craigmore Viaduct is a railway bridge near Bessbrook, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, locally known as the 18 Arches....
.
The bridge gained its name from its resemblance to a Pharaoh's
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
head-piece.
The bridge was selected for the design of the British One Pound coin
British One Pound coin
The circulating British one pound coin is minted from a nickel-brass alloy of approximately 70% copper, 24.5% zinc, and 5.5% nickel. The coin weighs 9.50 grams and has a diameter of 22.50 millimetres...
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
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
design competition.
The bridge was also the location of the Egyptian Arch Ambush of Monday 13 December 1920.