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© Irish IndependentDreenan Bridge across the River Finn in Co. Donegal
Donegal County Council engineers were last night keeping a round-the-clock watch on a bridge over concerns that it could be damaged by a large ice flow.

Since the thaw began on St Stephen's night, large chunks of broken ice and debris have been building up at Dreenan Bridge which crosses the River Finn outside the towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar.

All day yesterday, hundreds of curious passers-by stopped at the location to video and take photos of the glacier-like ice flow under the multi-million euro bridge which was opened just four years ago.

Senior council engineer Vincent Lynn was concerned rising water levels could cause the ice to build up against the deck of the bridge, resulting in structural damage.

"This is very interesting phenomenon resulting from a rapid thaw, the likes of which I have never seen in my life," Mr Lynn said.

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