The Quiet Man Bridge
Location for The Quiet Man film 🎞️
The Quiet Man Bridge, a well-liked local landmark, is 8km drive west from Oughterard on the N59 road and surrounded by the beautiful landscape of Connemara. The bridge featured in the famous 1952 film “The Quiet Man” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, which tells the story of an Irish-American boxer who returns to Ireland to reclaim his family’s farm and falls in love with a local woman. The site draws visitors from all around the world and some have been known to remove tiny bits of stone from the bridge as a souvenir (not advised!). The movie is regularly listed as one of the top 100 movies ever created.
Parking: There is a small layby for a few cars or minibuses and a display board with information about John Wayne and The Quiet Man film. Whether you have seen the film or not, it’s a wonderfully scenic spot and well worth a quick stop, especially given it’s so close to the main road directly through Connemara.
The Quiet Man film location
Directions: The Quiet Man Bridge at Leam is 8 kilometers from the village of Oughterard towards Clifden. It is situated about 100 meters left of the main road. Just follow the signpost for Leam.
Discover more about The Quiet Man
Quiet Man Museum in Cong: Any fans of the movie Quiet Man must visit the Quiet Man Museum in Cong, Co. Mayo. The White O’ Morn cottage from the film is mirrored in this structure. All visitors are charmed by the four poster bed, the tables and chairs that Mary Kate loved, the thatched roof, the emerald green half door, and the white washed front. Open from April through September annually, the Quiet Man Museum is open everyday from 10am to 4pm.
Quiet Man replica cottage at Peacockes: About 9km towards Clifden on the main road you’ll come to Peacockes Hotel where there is a quaint replica of the Quiet Man cottage from the film with free entry to explore.
Ballyglunin Railway Station: In the 1952 Hollywood classic “The Quiet Man,” John Ford brought cameras to Ballyglunin train station, or Castletown as it was known and brought this sleepy East Galway train station to the big screen for all the world to see. Hundreds of tourists from home and abroad visit this famous station in county Galway every year to take in a piece of Irish film history.
The Quiet Man Bridge FAQs
How to get to The Quiet Man Bridge?
The bridge, known locally as Leam Bridge, is located approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Oughterard on the N59 road heading toward Clifden. It is clearly signposted; look for a left-hand turn about 7km past Oughterard. There is a small layby nearby for parking, making it an easy and quick stop during a Connemara road trip.
Why is this bridge famous?
The bridge gained “screen immortality” as a key filming location for the 1952 Oscar-winning film “The Quiet Man,” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. It is the iconic spot where the character Sean Thornton (John Wayne) pauses to look over the landscape while hearing his mother’s voice describe his ancestral home, White O’Morn cottage.
What should I know before visiting the bridge?
The bridge remains largely unchanged since the 1950s and is free to visit. There is a commemorative plaque of John Wayne located on the side of the bridge. Visitors are asked to please not remove stones from the structure as souvenirs, as local lore suggests it has had to be repaired multiple times due to “trophy hunting” by fans over the decades.
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