Busby Babe bridge swap

THE Cabra bridge named after Busby Babe and Irish soccer legend, Liam Whelan, is being permanently replaced over the coming weeks as part of the Luas Cross City project.

The railway bridge near Dalymount Park was renamed after Whelan in 2006. He died in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster along with more than 20 other players, flight crew and passengers.

A new bridge currently being built on the site will replace the original and will retain the name.

“The Liam Whelan plaque will be removed and kept in storage,

? a spokesperson for the Luas project said.

“It will then be reinstated when the new bridge goes in.

“We have been in contact with Liam Whelan’s family who still have links in the area and they are aware of this.

?

The Liam Whelan plaque was unveiled at a ceremony held in December 2006 attended by Manchester United and England striker, Bobby Charlton.

Charlton, who often challenged Liam for his midfield position, survived the crash and stood alongside members of the Whelan family while then Lord Mayor Vincent Jackson unveiled the commemorative plaque.

Last year locals and soccer supporters responded honourably when the plaque was defaced by vandals by decking out the bridge in jerseys from Irish and British clubs. The graffiti was quickly painted over by Bohemians supporters and the Phibsboro club was later officially thanked by Manchester United.

Replacing the famous bridge will see a number of road closures in the area beginning this week from July 3 until July 26. Fassaugh Road will be closed to vehicular traffic between the junctions of Connaught Street and Shandon Crescent.

The Fassaugh Road junctions at Fassaugh Avenue, St Attracta Road and Dowth Avenue will also be closed to traffic over the same period. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Access to Mount Bernard Park from Connaught Street will be temporarily restricted during the bridge works but access to the park from Shandon Crescent will remain unaffected.

Several diversions will be put in place while the bridge is replace, details of which can be found on Luas Cross City project website at www.luascrosscity.ie.