Shandon Bells is 300 years young!

St Anne’s Church, known famously as Shandon Bells, was purpose-built around 1722 and will celebrate its tercentenary in style this month and next with a series of special events.

As part of the celebrations, a display of posters has been installed at the church by the Shandon History Group telling the building’s long history. The posters can be visited on most days and will remain at the church several months.

On 2 October, a tercentenary communion service will take place at the church. The church has also prepared a historical booklet full of coloured illustrations, some from Cork historian Michael Lenihan’s private collection.

For the main event, a free concert of Irish music will be hosted at the church on 28 September at 8pm. The invited musicians include Na Longaigh, a group of versatile musicians from Sciobairín, and Máire Ní Chéileachair, the renowned sean-nós singer from Múscraí who has won numerous prizes at the Oireachtas. Mandolin and tin whistle duo Rory and Cillian will also perform.

During the concert, a 140 page history of Shandon in Irish, called ‘Scéal an tSeandúin’ is to be launched. It is written by Risteárd Mac Annraoi with a cover picture by Sebastian Thommen. Risteárd is known as a historian and has written or translated over 30 books in Irish, including titles by Agatha Christie, Arthur Koestler, Eric Maria Remarque and Thomas Mann.