Update 22nd July 2024
All Ireland Bellringing Championship ( Murphy Cup) 2024. Held in Holy Trinity church Ballylesson Belfast on Saturday 25th May.
On a lovely sunny day the Murphy Cup was held in the Northern District of the Irish Association of Change Ringers for only the second time ( previously 1947). The IACR is made up of 3 districts ( North,South and East ) and in an attempt to promote post Covid contact between districts it was decided by the IACR Executive Council that it’s AGM meeting and Murphy Cup would be held on a 3 year rota in each district. Teams qualify by taking part in their own district qualifier competitions and depending on number taking part allows top teams to enter Murphy Cup. This year qualifying teams were. North ( St Nicholas Carrickfergus, St Malachy’s Hillsborough), East ( St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, Christ Church Taney Dublin ), and South ( St Mary’s Dunmanway and St Canice’s Cathedral Kilkenny). Unfortunately Kilkenny had to withdraw being short of a ringer at last minute. The 3 appointed judges were , Nigel Pelow ( East), Simon Chadwick ( North) and Nieve Hickey ( South ). Draw was made after judges hidden away. All towers rang 30 different call changes on 8 bells with exception of St Audoen’s Dublin ( 6 bells ) and St Patrick’s ( 3 courses of Grandsire Triples). The ringing was of an excellent standard by all teams. Worthy of special mention was the performance of Dunmanway, a very young band, and very well conducted. Also a member of the Carrickfergus team was aged 11ys. A great spread was laid on by the Ballylesson ringers and good general ringing was achieved after the result was announced. As all judges marked to a similar scale no adjustment was needed and result achieved by simply adding totals and divided by 3.
1 St Nicholas Carrickfergus 63
2 St Malachy’s Hillsborough 99
3 St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin 117
4 St Mary’s Dunmanway 124
5 Christ Church Taney Dublin 136
6 St Audoen’s Dublin 141
This was St Nicholas Carrickfergus first win since 1978 and it was great to see some +75 ringers attend in lovely sunshine and ringing beautiful and easily rung bells.
Don McLean
Association Ringing Master
Ringing Outing
- A group of ringers from West Cork are going on a 2-day outing on 12 and 13 July. We are visiting and ringing at St Peter’s, Drogheda; St Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedrals in Dublin; St Audoen’s, Dublin; St Mary’s, Blessington and Church of Immaculate Conception in Wexford.
If anyone would like to join us for some or all of the outing please get in touch and I’ll give you full details of where we will be and when. Diana Pitcher on 086-851-8329 or email Diana@DianaPitcher.com
A service of Re-dedication
- is to be held in St Mary’s Doneraile on Sunday 15th September at which the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, will bless and re-dedicate our newly restored and rehung peal of six bells. All ringers are very welcome to attend this service, and there will be ringing opportunities on both Saturday and Sunday for all levels of expertise – we want to make it a weekend of celebration.
Anyone who would like to take part in a quarter-peal to mark this occasion should contact Julia, lysaghtjulia@gmail.com
Association Cups Valuation
- All Association Cups are to be valued and inspected for repairs on Saturday 24th August 2024 and Saturday 7th September 2024. To help with this process all Eastern and Southern District towers currently holding Association or District Cups are requested to bring these cups to the Galbraith Cup (hosted by Christ Church Taney) on Saturday 24th August.
All Association and District Cups in the Northern District be brought to the District Practice in Holywood on Saturday 7th September 2024.
District Practices and Events July – August 2024
- Eastern District – Saturday 20th August 2024 – Wexford – 14.00 – 16.00
- Eastern District – Saturday 10th August 2024 – St Audeon’s, Dublin – 14.00 – 16.00
- Eastern District – Saturday 24th August 2024 – Galbraith Cup – Christ Church Taney
Please note change of venue for Northern District Practice, Saturday 7th September 2024. This Practice will now take place in SS Philip and James, Holywood – 14.00 – 17.00 hrs and not Enniskillen as originally planned.