Skibbereen

Abbeystrewry Church is unique in being named after the townland in

which is situated rather than a Saint and also houses the most

westerly ring of bells in Europe.

Skibbereen is a small thriving market town some 65 miles west of Cork city. It has a population of around 2500 people and has 25 pubs. Abbeystrewry Church is a protestant church in the town centre and was first licensed as a place of worship in 1890. The church is unusual in that it is called after the parish and not a saint.

During 2001 an appeal was launched to raise IR£250,000 to replace the roof of Abbeystrewry Church and undertake other works in this and the other 3 churches in the Union. A separate appeal to install the ring of bells was also started.

It had been hoped to re-house the 8 bells removed from St Nicholas's Church in Cork city when the church was de-consecrated. However, the bells were too big so a new peal was cast by Whitechapel in July 2002. These were hung by Matthew Higby Church Bellhangers in November 2002 and a first 1/4 peal was rung on November 8.

Before installation of the bells at Abbeystrewry, the next nearest towers with ringable bells were to be found in Bandon, Cork (St Finbarre's Cathedral), Doneraile, Waterford, and Limerick (St Mary's and Mount Saint Alphonsus).