The 600th anniversary of the oldest ringing church bells in Ireland - and one of the oldest surviving sets in the world - will be celebrated this weekend.
Three of the six bells at St Audoen's Church in The Liberties in Dublin date to 1423 and have never needed recasting.
The three other bells were cast in the 18th and 19th centuries.
A bellringing session of peals will echo across the capital tomorrow at 2pm.
"When you go through the door of the tower and go up the well-worn steps, you just imagine who has walked before you," said Robert MacDonald, from the St Audoen's Society of Bellringers.
"Then you arrive into the chamber and you just think wow - what a privilege. These bells are very special. When you think that three of them were cast in 1423. That's Pre-Reformation. It's phenomenal that history and you feel it when you ring these bells."
Nestled in the heart of the walled medieval city, St Audoen's is the only remaining medieval church in the capital still in use.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) runs a visitor centre on the site.
OPW guide Neil Moxham said: "The church dates back to around 1190 and is a hidden gem in the heart of the historic medieval city. The bells are still rung every week and when I hear them, it reminds me just how much history they've seen. Three of these bells were being rung 70 years before Columbus set sail for the New World, which really puts everything in context."
While the church bells have tolled in witness to history for six centuries, St Audoen's Society of Bellringers was only formed in May of this year.
The last time the church had its own dedicated bell ringing society was back in 1898.
"There are 15 members, from all walks of life," explained Mr MacDonald.
"We've had a real effort around recruitment and have recruited people who are very enthusiastic to learn the art of bellringing and being part of this history.
"The bells aren't perfectly tuned, one has to be honest about that, because of their age.
"But they have a robust sound and they have survived the test of time.
"I'm always amazed how few people have visited St Audoen's or heard of its bells. I have threatened my wife that I would like my funeral here, so that everybody appreciates the beauty of this extraordinary church and listens to these amazing bells that are 600 years old."
