Friday, March 28, 2008

Good chimes roll for cathedral bells

ONE of Ireland's most famous cathedrals yesterday welcomed back a set of historic bells from a painstaking refurbishment programme in England.

St Fin Barre's Cathedral, in Cork, formally welcomed back the restored bells - several of which were forged almost four centuries ago.

The bells were formally welcomed back to their home by St Fin Barre's Dean Nigel Dunne, and Tower Captain Heather Heaslip.

The oldest of the bells dates from 1751 - and are actually older than the current cathedral building, which was the focus of a lavish reconstruction in the 19th century.

St Fin Barre's ranks as one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the country and is reputed to be built on the site of the burial place of Cork's patron saint.

The carillion - or bell ringing mechanism - became famous because it was traditionally used to welcome cruise liners into Cork harbour.

The bells were used to replicate the theme music of the Laurel and Hardy movies when the two famous US comedians arrived in Cork on a liner in the 1950s.
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