Restoration works are required for one of Cork's most famous landmarks St Anne's Church in Shandon.
Situated in one of the oldest parts of Cork city, St Anne's Church, Shandon with its distinctive steeple and fish shaped weather vane is immediately identifiable, as are the sound of its bells which are described,
An essential part of the life of Cork city, and of its people.
The churchyard is the final resting place for many generations of Cork citizens, including Fr Francis Mahony, who wrote under the pen name of Fr Prout, and was the author of the song 'The Bells of Shandon'.
The bells can be played by visitors to the tower under the supervision of church caretaker Bob Searls, in the presence of 'Bob' and 'Joan'. These are two statues which previously stood at the entrance to the Green Coat Hospital School in the vicinity of St Anne's Church which educated children from Protestant families who had fallen on hard times.
Canon George Salter explains, the building dates from 1722 but there has been a church in some shape or form here since the 12th century, and most likely even earlier than that. A fundraising drive is underway to finance restoration work to the exterior and interior of the church.
We would like it to be here in two hundred and fifty years' time.
The interior of the church contains nineteenth century stained glass windows, and a baptismal font which dates from 1629. It was salvaged from the former St Mary's Church Shandon, located on this site but in 1690 was destroyed in the siege of Cork during the Williamite War in Ireland.
Adorning the walls are memorials to former parishioners who were well known during their lifetimes, including Joseph Hargrave, designer of St Patrick's Bridge.
To keep the Shandon bells ringing and the clock ticking, Bill Kitteringham, like his father before him, has climbed the tower stairs every three days to wind the huge mechanism which keeps the clock in motion.
A strenuous job which involves 45 minutes of constant winding.
A 'Tangents' report broadcast 17 January 1974. The reporter is Doireann Ní Bhriain.
A miscellany of events, entertainment, opinions and personalities, 'Tangents' was first aired on Monday 25 September, 1972 and ran until 1974. 'Tangents' was presented by Cathal O'Shannon and Doireann Ní Bhriain on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and by John O'Donoghue each Tuesday.
