(Almost) time to let the bells ring

Restoration works have almost been completed on Shandon’s St Anne’s Church, with scaffolding removed last week.

The works, which have been ongoing since last year, have cost a total of €590,000. Cork City Council received €250,000 in funding from the Department of Heritage, Local Government and Housing under the historic structures fund in 2025 and further supplemented this with €340,000. The works were split into three separate projects - refurbishing the tower’s clocks, bell’s supports, and its original 300 year old door.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy said the renewal allowed the church to face the future.

The tower’s clock is now back in working order and all four faces have been restored, including repainting and gilding of the clock numerals, and the reintroduction of the minute markers - an element which has been missing since the 1960s.

The clock’s famous quirk - its four faces showing different times - has been maintained, and they will only show the same time on the hour.

The stonework of the tower has also been cleaned using a hot steam system and included the removal of vegetation and staining.

Additional work to the tune of €130,000 was carried out on the church vestry.

Cllr Dennehy said the church is one of Cork’s most beloved landmarks.

“It is part of the very cultural and social fabric of the city itself, it is woven into the story of us, it is a symbol of the city, it is part of us.

“Behind this achievement stands an exceptional community of experts and craftspeople whose dedication has brought new life to this iconic building.

“Their work allows future generations to admire and enjoy Shandon as so many have before them,” he said.

All three projects were undertaken by Hearthstone Building and Restoration with input from James Bourke Conservation Architects and guidance of the City Council’s Conservation Officer.

The main clock works were managed and overseen by Cork City Council’s Architect’s Department. The clock restoration was undertaken by Philip Stokes of Stokes Clocks with the assistance of Horgan Lynch Consulting Engineers. The bells structures project was carried out with David Kelly Partnership.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.