Bell Ringers

The Murphy Cup Bellringing Competition was held on Saturday 17th May in Christ Church, Taney. Competing were St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork, St. Malachi’s Church, Hillsborough, St. Donard’s Church, Belfast, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin who had two teams as well as St. Mary’s Cathedral. When all the results were in the placing were as follows: St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork were 6th, Christ Church B team were 5th, St. Malachi’s Church, Hillsborough were 4th, Christ Church A team were 3rd with 28 faults, St. Donard’s were second with 24 faults with St. Mary’s being declared the winners with 16 faults. This is the tenth time that St. Mary’s has won the Murphy Cup, as well as having shared it on one occasion. The team, was – Treble Jack Sciascia; 2nd Mike Pomeroy, 3rd Gerry O’Shea, 4th Kieron Brislane, 5th Bryan Priestley, 6th Christy Pratt, 7th Mike Howes, Tenor David Taylor. Congratulations to the Ringers in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork who have added 4 additional bells to their existing 8. They are the first tower in the Southern District to be able to ring 12 bells. On Sunday last in Cork a special dedication service was held when ringers from all around the island attended. To celebrate, a peal consisting of 5040 Plain Bob Triples was rung in the afternoon taking 2 hours 54 minutes. The band was as follows:- Treble Christ G Pratt, 2 Jean Jeffery, 3 Julia M. Lysaght, 4 P. David Taylor, 5 Ian P. Bell, 6 Simon Walker, 7 Michael J. Pomeroy, 8 Guy St. Leger. First pea1, 8. First peal of the light 8 of the refurbished and augmented bells on the day of their consecration.

A Quarter Peal of 1260 Plain Bob Triples was rung in St. Mary's Cathedral on the afternoon of Saturday 5th April 2008, in 45 minutes.The teams stood as follows:- Treble Christy Pratt; 2 Jack Sciascia; 3 Jean Jeffries; 4 Kieron Brislane; 5 Julia Lysaght; 6 Michael Crockett; 7 Mike Pomeroy (C); 8 David Taylor.Rung in fond memory of Paddy Benson - a bell ringer in Mt. St. Alphonsus and St. Mary's Cathedral for almost 65 years, who died on 1st April 2008.

On the following morning, Sunday 6th April as worshippers approached both Mt. St. Alphonsus and St. Mary's Cathedral they heard the bells being rung half muffled, in Paddy's memory.There is a Sympathy card currently in the tower, to be sent to Paddy's sisters. In place of a wreath, the tower will be sending flowers to Eithne and Peggy in Paddy's memory next week - if you would like to contribute please let me or Mike know.

On Sunday 6th April, in the lovely village church of St. Mary in Doneraile the RR Cherry Cup was again competed for by the towers of the Southern District.Of the six teams competing, St. Mary's were drawn second to ring their test-piece; and with a goodrhythm and some excellent striking were announced winners with 90 faults.

The St. Mary's team stood as follows :- Treble Jack Sciascia; 2 Mike Pomeroy (C); 3 Kieron Brislane; 4 Gerry O'Shea; 5 Bryan Priestley; 6 David Taylor.

St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork finished in 2nd place, with 132 faults. In 3rd place was the home team of Doneraile with 151 faults.St. Fin Barre's were also awarded the Talbot Trophy for the most improved team on last year. These teams will now go forward to represent the Southern District at the Murphy Cup.
This will take place in Taney Church, Dublin on the afternoon of Saturday 17th May.

At the AGM of the Southern District, which followed the competition, Bryan Priestley was re-elected Chairman of the District. Christy Pratt, of Mt. St. Alphonsus, was re-elected the Treasurer of the District, and nominated to be Association Treasurer also.

Who was part of the team that rang a peal in Christ Church Cathedral last Monday, St. Patrick’s Day. Most of the ringers were from Hampshire, one or two from Yorkshire and two from Somerset with Mike calling himself a Somerset man or an Irish man depending to whom he was speaking!!!! Either way he is the first member of the Irish Association to ring a peal of 16 bells. Details of the peal are as follows:-

Rung by the Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild
In Christ Church Diocesan Cathedral, Dublin
Monday 17th March 2008 in 3h 44m (45 cwt)

1: Roy LeMarechal, 2: John P. Colliss, 3: Ian J. Carey, 4: R. Mark Esbester, 5: Heather L.E. Peachey, 6: Jane D. Johnston, 7: Rt. Rev’d Barry F. Peachey, 8: Nicholas D. Soanes, 9: Canon Barry J. Fry, 10: Steve Castle, 11: Michael J. Pomeroy, 12: Christopher S. Caryer, 13: David A. Weir, 14: Keith W. Scudamore, 15: Martin B. Hough, 16: Matthew R.T. Higby. First on 16 - Ringers of 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16. Conductor’s 300th Peal for the Guild and first on 16 as Conductor. First Peal in the method. First Peal of Septuplets on the bells. Rung to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Outcome of The Annual General Meeting of
St. Mary’s Cathedral Society of Bellringers
Held Monday 26th November 2007

Despite a low turn out for the AGM ay, we did conduct some business …!
Here are the results ...

President : Dean Sirr,
Vice President : Tom Marsden,
Captain : Mike Pomeroy
Vice Captain / Tower Keeper: Bryan Priestley
Secretary/Treasurer : Kieron Brislane,
Southern Dist. Rep. : Kieron Brislane
Social Organiser : Adrianne Barron

Thank you to Mount St Alphonsus Ringers without whose assistance we would not be able to ring all 8 bells every Sunday.
Thank you to Andrew and Noreen for their support help and assistance during the year.
St. Mary's are the current Murphy Cup holders - All-Ireland champions.
The acquisition of the mini-bell ring.
The success of the EV+A "concert" in May.
Bell frame has reached its sell-by date; Bells require serious maintenance.
Noted the dead of Gilbert Pomeroy - father of Mike, and a regular visitor to Limerick. Also noted the death of Dean Sirr's brother, Clement, recently.
Quarter Peals rung to celebrate the 80th birthday of Ken Brislane and 70th birthday of Jack Sciascia; to celebrate the life of Gilbert Pomeroy and also to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dean's ministry in Limerick.
CCTV, to allow the congregation to "see" the ringing as they enter the Cathedral, to be installed in the near future.

If you are looking for something different to do with the evenings closing in….Read on. If you have looked into St. Mark’s Chapel in the Cathedral any time over the last few weeks you will have noticed an addition to the fabric in there - a mini-ring! A set of 10 small bells that are hung and function very similarly to the real tower bells - except in miniature. The heaviest is only a few pounds in weight versus the 24 cwt. of the “upstairs” bells. On the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month the Cathedral ringers will be practicing on the mini-ring instead of the “real” bells - and are extending an invitation to anyone and everyone to join them, from 8.30 p.m. onwards. After 5 minutes of tuition anyone aged 7 to 77 and beyond will be able to ring them. No question! If you have always wondered what went on “up the tower” but never ventured upstairs, this is the perfect opportunity. Come along and enjoy the camaraderie of the bell-ringing fraternity without the hassle of a long climb! More details from Mike Pomeroy (086 - 171 5791) or Kieron Brislane (086 - 0575 759)

On Wednesday August 22nd, St. Mary’s saw a new ring of bells installed in St. Mark’s Chapel, albeit temporarily. There are 10 bells which are hung in a galvanised steel frame which can be reasonably easily dismantled and transported. The bells and frame were cast and built by Higby Bell Engineering in Somerset and the heaviest bell weighs 16 lb (about 7.5 kilograms). The bells have been acquired for Limerick ringers not only to practice on and more importantly to be able to show parishioners of St. Mary’s and visitors how tower bells are rung, because they are rung in exactly the same way. It is also hoped that those ringers who can no longer make it up the stairs will get back to ringing on the mini-bells. Because they are easy to learn to ring on and there is no danger in ringing them, it is hoped that children and young adults will have a go to see if they might like to learn bell ringing and to progress in change ringing far faster than they would on the tower bells. Already a six year old girl is able to ring one for a few minutes after about 10 minutes tuition. Of course the intended spin off is to get more ringers to ring the tower bells. Enquiries about the mini-bells can be made to Mike Pomeroy on michael.pomeroy@ul.ie.

Visitors are welcome both to join in service ringing and practice evenings. Contact the Tower Secretary, Kieron Brislane with requests for use of bells.

Ringers meet at 10.30am onwards for Sunday morning ringing
Practice evening is Monday, from 8.00pm to 10.00pm
(by prior arrangement, as a key is required to enter the Cathedral).

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Bell Details from a Tablet in the Cathedral
Click here for a full screen version of the Tablet

winning
L to R - Alan Hegarty, Mike Pomeroy, Ken Brislane, Bryan Priestley, Gerry O'Shea, Mike Howes, Kieron Brislane, John Sturdy.

Committee/Contact details

Captain : Mike Pomeroy
+353 (0)61 202200 (o); +353 (0)61 331693 (h); michael.pomeroy@ul.ie

Secretary:- Contact Kieron Brislane
Telephone : +353 (0)61 396049 (home) and +353 (0)61 223757 (desk)
email: kieron_brislane@dell.com
Postal Address:
"Redwood",
Cloongownagh,
Kildimo,
Co. Limerick.
Ireland