Beloved bells to ring again
The 9 bells of North Cathedral are to ring out over Leeside once more after 56 years of silence.
The great news was confirmed on Tuesday that after undergoing essential restoration works, the bells of the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne will call parishioners to mass again at 5pm this Saturday.
The restoration project began in 2019 and was financed through an ambitious, long-term fundraising campaign undertaken by the parish. The project will also see the installation of new exterior lighting at the cathedral.
Architects, engineers, and bell experts were brought onboard to complete the restorations which cost approximately €170,000 in total.
The team at the North Cathedral are now inviting all from the local community to come and witness the first sounding in over half a century.
The 9 bells, which were first commissioned in 1869, were a familiar sound that announced the ordination of bishops and priests, weddings, first communions, confirmations, Sunday masses, the Angelus, and funeral masses for nearly 100 years.
The 2 most important parts of the project were remedial works on the timber support structure and restorative works on the bells themselves. Works were also begun which will make the tower accessible to parishioners and visitors in the future.
Speaking ahead of the first ringing, Canon John O’Donovan, Administrator of the Cathedral on behalf of the finance committees, expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone that helped the project to fruition over the past 3 years.
He said: “The outpouring of support from the parishes and the people of the area is a testament to the maintaining of the heritage of this important building to the city of Cork.
“The bells of the North Cathedral once played a huge role in the lives of those in the locality. It is fantastic for the children and grandchildren of those who heard them last to hear the bells ring again.
“This is all part of our ongoing plan to also establish the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne as part of a tourist and heritage site that is the greater Shandon area.”
The cathedral was dedicated in 1808 and has played an important role in the life of Cork, as well as being the mother church for the Diocese of Cork and Ross.