Cromaboo bridge, first stone laid in 1796, Athy, Co. Kildare.

Today we move across the border from Laois AKA Queens County to the broad plains of Kildare and a very special stone. The location may not be in doubt but we thought the personalities would make for interesting research.....The plaque shows (presumably) the arms of the Fitzgerald's, with text reading:. Crom~a~Boo Bridge. First Stone Laid By His Grace. Wm Robt Duke of Leinster. 23rd May 1796. Contracter Sir James Delehunty. Knight of the Trowel..From the discussion below, and with thanks to sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) , swordscookie ( /photos/swordscookie/ ) , B-59 ( /photos/66311327@N05/ ) , and O Mac ( /photos/91549360@N03/ ) , we know that:.- "Crom a Boo" ( http://athyeyeonthepast.blogspot.de/1996/05/bridge-of-athy.html ) derives from "Crom Abú", a war-cry of the Fitzgerald's.- William Robert FitzGerald ( vtls000314018 ) was Duke of Leinster and local landowner.- James Delehunty's ( http://www.dia.ie/architects/view/6800/DELAHUNTY-JAMES#tab_works ) label of "Knight of the Trowel" refers to his status of master mason...Photographer: James P. O'Dea..Collection: James P. O'Dea ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000148612 ) ..Date: 3 February 1961..NLI Ref.: ODEA 23/23 ( vtls000305273 ) ..You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie ( http://catalogue.nli.ie )