A humped-back 19th-century road bridge over the Leam River that became a piece of film history in John Ford's 1952 classic The Quiet Man. Today it is an easy, free roadside stop on the N59 through Connemara.
The little stone bridge over the Leam River has double Roman arches and looks much as it did on screen in 1952. You can drive or walk across it, then stand on the spot where Sean Thornton looked out over his family's land.
A commemorative plaque to John Wayne sits on the side of the bridge, and a display board at the layby tells the story of the film and its stars. Please don't pocket bits of stone as souvenirs.
The bridge is framed by the mountains, lakes and bogland of Connemara, making it a favourite photo stop. It sits about 100 metres left of the main road, signposted for Leam, 8 km west of Oughterard.
Interpretation boards and picnic tables make this a handy break on a Connemara drive. There are no shops here, so bring your own food and drink.
The bridge is stop 1 on the Connemara Film Trail, which also takes in Lettergesh beach (the film's horse race), Cong's Quiet Man Museum and Ballyglunin railway station.
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