Cork (St. Mary's Cathedral)

The R.C . Cathedral of St Mary, Cork, has a square tower with pinnacles at the west end. There are nine bells hanging on two levels - Treble, 5, 6, 7, and Tenor in the bottom level, with the 2 and the flat 2nd, 3, and 4 above . The flat 2nd hangs dead from a timber headstock. The eight bells are hung for whole-circle ringing are in a timber frame, and have wooden headstocks, whole-wheels, stays and sliders, all in plain bearings. It is very many years since these bells were rung by teams of ringers and, due to the installation of pipe-work through the frame, it is not possible to ring them. They are now chimed from a console in the former ringing room. Several efforts have been made over the years to have them completely restored and made safe for ringing.