A history of the Irish Association Recent history

The Irish Association of Change Ringers celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in 1973 with a number of events, involving the bulk of the towers in Ireland. A Ringing Festival was held in Dublin, which coincided with a visit of the Ancient Society of College Youths, who rang a peal of Cantaur Alliance Maximus at St Patrick's. The Northern District also hosted a Ringing Festival with the President of the Central Council as the guest of honour.

The period from the early seventies to the early eighties shows another burst of bell augmentation, restoration and installation. In 1972 the ring of eight at Hillsborough, County Down, became a ten and in 1977 Drumbo became a ring of eight. The six bells of Blessington, County Wicklow, which date from 1685, were rehung, and were joined within a few years by the installation of the six very light bells at Newcastle, County Down, and the restored bells of St Audoen's, Dublin. Three of the bells at this latter Church date from 1423. In terms of competition ringing, provision was made in the Northern District for younger members, with the gift by the Maginess family of Hillsborough, of the Iveagh Cup, for teams composed of ringers less than twenty-one years.

Changes were made in the mid to late 1980s to increase and broaden membership participation in the operation of the Association. This general attitude is also reflected in the new criteria for entry to the All-Ireland Murphy Cup Competition, which now has one team participating for every three teams that competed in the respective District competitions. This period also witnessed a great upsurge in change-ringing activity under the ringing leadership of John Lindsay, with a marked increase in the number of members ringing Quarter-Peals, as well as advances in the field of Surprise ringing. The highlight of the late 1980s was the installation of the fine new ring of twelve bells at Ballymena, County Antrim.

When we entered our year of centenary, we acknowledged the contribution which many dedicated members have made in the past to ensure the continuation of our Association and its aims. To long-standing members, names such as William Pratt, John Dunwoody and Dean Maurice Talbot will readily spring to mind. Another outstanding past member of the Association was Andrew J Corrigan of Dublin, who invented place notation. Of particular note at this time, was Fred Dukes. Fred was, of course, the international face of Irish bell ringing and held the honour of being the only Irish Honorary Life Member of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. He held the amazing record of having an unbroken attendance of 52 consecutive Council Meetings and served as the International Liaison Officer. Fred served the Irish Association as its General Secretary for over forty-three years, having also previously been assistant to Gabriel Lindoff. Another of his many contributions to the cause of Irish bell ringing was the publication of his book, "Campanology in Ireland", the culmination of a lifetime of research.

The dawn of the millennium saw the installation of three new rings of bells, one in each of the districts. First of all the St Georges bells were rehung in Taney church and rung for the first time of January the first 2000. They were followed shortly afterwards by the augmentation of Greyabbey in county Down and the restoration of the Skibbereen bells.

A brief survey of the history of an Association such as ours helps to underline that any organisation is only as good as its members and we in the Irish Association of Change Ringers have a lot to be grateful for. Solid foundations laid in the formative years of our Association have been built upon by successive dedicated officers and members we can and look forwards with confidence.