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You can walk or cycle over the Rosie Hackett Bridge from tomorrow

You can also drive over it if you’re a bus or taxi driver. Or a regular motorist who enjoys penalty points and prison time.

Opening - Rosie Hackett bridge in Dubl Second Cousin of Rosie Hackett, Mrs Agnes Malone from Glasgow poses in front of the new bridge. Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

DUBLIN’S NEWEST LIFFEY Bridge will officially open to the public at 6am tomorrow morning.

The new structure links Marlborough St on the northside with Hawkins Street on the south bank — and will handle the new southbound cross city LUAS line once that project’s completed.

For the moment, it’s open to buses, taxis and cyclists. There’s also a footpath for pedestrians.

The bridge is the 24th crossing of the Liffey, and the first to be named after a woman.

Hackett was a trade unionist and member of the Irish Citizen Army who took part in the 1916 Rising.

rosie hackett Old Dublin Town Old Dublin Town

Her name was chosen from a shortlist by Dublin councillors at a meeting last year. Those campaigning for it to be used argued that Hackett’s role – like that of many women involved in activism in the early 20th century – had been largely erased from history.

It’s the first new bridge over the Liffey since the Samuel Beckett Bridge in the Docklands was opened in 2009 and cost around €13.5 million, funded by the National Transport Authority.

Speaking at the launch today, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar spoke strongly about Hackett’s role in Irish history.

Beginning his speech, he noted that the 1916 Proclamation”begins with words that were radical for its time: Irishmen and Irishwomen”.

“Unfortunately, in the years after the winning of Irish freedom, we did not always remember that it had been a shared endeavour,” he continued.

“Oftentimes women were airbrushed out of our history, sometimes literally so. Elizabeth O’Farrell was just one of the many women who played a vital part  in the GPO and around Dublin during Easter Week.

“She worked as a nurse and a courier, and delivered ammunition from the GPO to the garrison in the College of Surgeons by hiding it under her clothes.

“There is a famous photograph of Elizabeth O’Farrell on that day, accompanying Pearse to surrender officially in Moore Street. It is famous because you can only see her feet, the rest of her was left out. She had been removed from Irish history.

“In the movie ‘Michael Collins’ her role is played by a man.

History is rewritten all the time, but this rewriting was a particularly cruel betrayal of the very principles of the Rising. The airbrushing of women out of our history.

“The same happened to Rosie Hackett, union leader, organiser, printer nurse, prisoner, fighter and founding member of the Irish Citizens Army.”

He praised Dublin City Council for sending out the “strong statement” today.

“It is a recognition that we for too long have forgotten our own history. For too long we have accepted a lopsided account of our past, and the Irishwomen who worked heroically with Irishmen to create a  new future.

“Rosanna Hackett was just one of many women who played a crucial part in our history. But by honouring her, we honour all those who have been unjustly forgotten.

“Now whenever people cross this bridge they will be reminded of who Rosie Hackett was and what she did.

“Tourists and visitors to the city will Google her name, and discover the part she played in winning Irish freedom. They will hear about her courage, and her example. Curious children will read about her life, and be inspired to go off and read more about her, and the other men and women of that period.”

Additional reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll

Read: From 1000 AD to Samuel Beckett: Dublin’s bridges in 10 fascinating facts…

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63 Comments
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    Mute Lewis Armstrong
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    Jan 14th 2024, 12:52 AM

    Great achievements and still so young but leaving his partner and kid to party and live the Hollywood life is unfortunately where he will never grace the echelons of Cillian Murphy who is all class

    216
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    Mute Chris
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    Jan 13th 2024, 10:57 PM

    I’m sorry but his acting is pretty similar no matter the character, so his acting register must improve or….I really don’t know why there is a buzz about him, maybe his appearance?

    177
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    Mute NoelDublin
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    Jan 13th 2024, 11:43 PM

    @Chris: oh disagree. His performance in Saltburn is show stealing. Very subtle and beautiful. Yes, his looks are distinctive. All the greats were.

    102
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    Mute Leinsterprincess
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    Jan 14th 2024, 10:10 AM

    @NoelDublin: yea I loved all the various accents he was doing throughout the film lol

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    Mute Alan
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    Jan 14th 2024, 1:01 PM

    @Leinsterprincess: thought he looked too old for the part

    5
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    Mute Lapland
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    Jan 14th 2024, 1:26 AM

    Jeez the Irish on here doing what the Irish are good at… slating their own . Shameful comments..

    182
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 14th 2024, 11:07 AM

    @Lapland: World capital of begrudgery. It’s why we have no services or infrastructure.

    42
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    Mute T S
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    Jan 14th 2024, 1:46 PM

    @Lapland: Begrudgery is unreal isn’t it? The last curse of the Catholic Church.

    16
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    Mute Binne
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    Jan 14th 2024, 8:29 AM

    Barry Keoghan is an amazing talent.. Saltburn is a story of manipulation told in a different way.. Barry performance is out of this world and I wish him the very best, so proud to see this young man carve his way to the very top in the film industry.. as for his personal life it’s none of anyone’s business

    107
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    Mute Furious George - The Wasp
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    Jan 13th 2024, 10:07 PM

    And he got his lad out

    93
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    Mute Colin Howard
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    Jan 14th 2024, 8:37 AM

    It’s good to see that the aul Irish begrudgery is alive and well this morning. A young man who’s had a tough upbringing has made it on the world stage and most on here just want to put him down. But wait, the Brits try to claim him as one of their own? The very same begrudgers will he back on here blowing a gasket over that!!

    115
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    Mute Jack Moss
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:42 PM

    @Colin Howard: The Brits didn’t try to claim them as their own . GQ magazine is American . Its offices are in New York and its own by an American . An article written in a rag says he is British and every one gets upset .

    6
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    Mute Megan Ward
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    Jan 15th 2024, 12:05 PM

    @Jack Moss: They didn’t even say he was British, they referred to him as ‘one of our greatest’ actors, as in the world. If it was specific to nationality then they’d have been calling him American as it was the American GQ article lifted.

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    Mute Paul Kavanagh
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    Jan 13th 2024, 11:57 PM

    good for him. living the dream.

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    Mute Aidan McCormack
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    Jan 14th 2024, 12:24 AM

    Here am i the only one that thought saltburn was a load of…. you know what i want to say. Nonsense

    105
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    Mute Niall Madden
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    Jan 14th 2024, 7:02 AM

    I know that a few years ago while in Galway filming the Inisherin film he was out on the town with his brother and got a couple of clouts off said brother. He was all over the media telling us how he was attacked in Galway and was terrified for his life. Award winner alright!

    59
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    Mute Benny Mchale
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    Jan 13th 2024, 11:04 PM

    4 out of10. Knew the cat question. Thought he looked like the joker and guessed the other two.

    48
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    Mute Edward Hughes
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    Jan 14th 2024, 12:43 AM

    Got a break in life and making the most of it. He’s flavour of the month( to be crass). First and only pupil from the Colin Farrell school of acting. He’s improving all the time. Last role in salt burn was a hard watch but got there in the end. Hopefully he realises it and works to develop the potential. Leave him to it and see what happens. “ buy Irish”

    41
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    Mute Alan Casey
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:02 AM

    Ah he’s a cheeky little bollix.

    46
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    Mute nollaig o cellaigh
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    Jan 14th 2024, 12:46 AM

    7 / 10

    Good actor hope he keeps his feet on the ground

    27
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    Mute Alan Casey
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:04 AM

    @nollaig o cellaigh: Apparently not off to a good start in that regard. Dumped his girlfriend and child.

    62
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    Mute Patrick O'Leary
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    Jan 14th 2024, 11:47 AM

    Never heard of him so guess “Not a lot” would be the answer.

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    Mute Bass Boss
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    Jan 13th 2024, 10:46 PM

    no artikel over the journoz killed in kiev?!!.. navalny le traître..

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    Mute Rover
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    Jan 14th 2024, 12:48 AM

    Made up here that he cut his teeth in Fair City

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    Mute Paul whitehead
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    Jan 14th 2024, 12:50 PM

    Typical of Irish begrudgery. Knocking our own .. Didn’t he get his lad out??

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    Mute HurdyGurdyMan
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    Jan 14th 2024, 8:18 PM

    Great to see the lad doing so well

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    Mute Michael Fitzpatrick
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:01 PM

    He’s NOT BRITISH …..

    FFS !!! When will our “so called” nearest neighbours ever learn to STOP laying claim to things that AREN’T theirs ……

    9
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