The bells at Rosscarbery Cathedral were cast and installed in 1897 by John Taylor’s of Loughborough, the gift of the then Dean, Isaac Reeves. By 1897, Taylor’s had just perfected true harmonic tuning, known as “Simpson” tuning, after Canon Simpson, who pioneered it. In actual fact, it was more a case of rediscovering how to do it, as many 17th century bellfounders had been producing true harmonically tuned bells, but the art was somehow lost for a long while.
Five bells were installed in 1897. The cathedral organist and choirmaster also happened to be a ringer, having learned in the north of Ireland, before he took the position in Rosscarbery, and he became responsible for teaching people to ring. After his death in 1926, a chiming apparatus was installed, and this became the way the bells were sounded from that point on, as there were no ringers left at that point.
The top of the spire was blown off in storms on a couple of occasions, and the bells gradually became derelict. This all changed in 2004, when, as part of a major restoration of the entire building, the bells were rehung lower down the tower, with a heavy duty galvanized steel base grillage, and measures were taken to cut down on the amount of water ingress, which had been a major factor in the deterioration of the framework and fittings.
Newly installed in Saint Fachtna’s Cathedral, while the Very Reverend Christopher Peters was Dean, the bells were dedicated by the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, at a Service of Dedication on 31st March 2006.
In 2011, an extra bell was added, completing the ring of six bells. All the major components were previously used elsewhere. The bell itself was the no.2 bell from the pre 2009 ring of twelve bells at Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge, the extra framework was previously at Portsmouth Cathedral and the headstock was previously on the treble at York Minster. The six bells hang in three tiers, which is unique in Ireland.
The inscriptions on the first five bells are:
‘This peal of bells was presented by Mary Reeves to the glory of God in memory of her beloved father, Thomas Somerville Reeves who was brought up and educated here.’
‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’
‘Day by day we magnify thee.
‘Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’
‘He shall reign for ever and ever.’
