St Audoen’s Church bells rings in 600 years of history

The bells at St Audoen’s Church are ringing in its 600th birthday in style this weekend.

A ceremony will be held at 2pm tomorrow at The Liberties church to mark the landmark occasion.

St Audeon’s Church holds the virtue of being the only remaining medieval church still in use in Dublin, with the church stretching all the way back to 1190.

St Audoen’s Society of Bellringers will be on hand to ring the bells.

Bearing gothic inscriptions, one bell is stamped 1423 and includes an inscription ‘Anno Domini 1423: The Bell of the Holy Trinity and all Saints’, while the two others of similar construction are dedicated to St Audoen and to Mary, the Blessed Virgin.

The other bells were cast in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, said “these bells have tolled in witness to history for six centuries, as this part of the city went through periods of significant cultural and economic change.”

“As custodians of such important historical artifacts, we are delighted to recognise and honour this rich piece of our heritage, and to ring the bells in celebration on August 26.”

“These bells, along with three others from the 18th and 19th century, have been an integral part of Dublin life for centuries, sounding the hours and calling the inhabitants of the inner city to prayer.”

“They have stood guard and watch over the ever-changing landscape of this developing city, providing a memorable soundtrack to our historic moments, calling out our celebrations and tolling sadly in empathy with our grief,” he said.

Robert MacDonald, Ringing Master at St Audoen’s said, “it is an enormous privilege to be able to ring bells that were cast 600 years ago and to be part of the continuing story of bellringing in Dublin.”

“The bells aren’t perfectly tuned, one has to be honest about that, because of their age,” he told RTÉ, “but they have a robust sound and they have survived the test of time.”

St Audoen’s Society of Bellringers was reformed in May of this year, marking the first time since 1898 that the church had its own dedicated bell-ringing society.