Timely facelift for the famed Shandon clock

Where can you find the ball that never hopped, the fish that never swam, and the clock that never told the time?

Many Cork people will guess the answer to this riddle, which refers to the oldest Church of Ireland church in continuous use in Cork city - St Anne’s Church in Shandon.

The church and its tower - with the striking weather vane, the ‘goldie fish’, perched over a ball, and the clock which is known as the ‘four- faced liar’ as the time is reputedly never wholly accurate - are an iconic sight on the Cork skyline, and very much a symbol of the rebel city.

Since 1722, it has stood tall and proud rooted in Shandon, a very beautiful and interesting part of Cork where the echoes of the past dovetail seamlessly with the activities of the present.

Under The Goldie Fish by celebrated Cork writer Cónal Creedon was inspired by this area and holds a very special place in his heart.

“Shandon steeple is the epicentre of my world,” he says. “Eason’s hill in the shadow of Shandon was my first school. The warren of streets and the people who live here is a life force which runs through my veins.”

“In the shadow of the steeple lies the beating heart of Cork city.

“In between each lane and alley are chapters of the city’s magical history, inhabited by fascinating people such as Sylvester O’Mahony, Nano Nagle, Mother Jones, and Jack Lynch - Shandon is a rich and colourful tapestry of life and lore, song and history,” Cónal said.

The tower of St Anne’s is also home to the historic bells of Shandon, which have become famous worldwide. Visitors have been going there for more than 100 years, according to the record books at the church.

A conservation and management plan undertaken in 2024, with the assistance of the Community Monuments Fund, identified key preservation and conservation needs for St Anne’s to ensure the longevity of this beloved Cork landmark.

The recommendations informed a strategy for the repair of the building, from short-term urgent works required, to the long-term plan to ensure its preservation for generations to come.

Reverend Meghan Farr, priest in charge of St Anne’s, Shandon, and St Luke’s Care Home, explained: “The purpose of the works in the short-term is to secure all surviving historic fabric.

“Some work has already been completed such as the replacement of the west-facing louvres and localised repairs to the bell tower to prevent water ingress, and the doors are off for restoration.

“We are looking at repairs to the clock and phase one will also include essential repairs to the timber and metal structures supporting the bells.

“Phase two, planned for 2026, if funding is secured, will be for weathering details to minimise water from entering the bell chamber, along with general completion works.

“We are particularly grateful to James Bourke of James Bourke architects, our conservation architect, and also to Keith Starr and Paul Forde, from Hearthstone Building and Restoration, who are carrying out the works.”

St Anne’s is a small but mighty Church of Ireland community, and holds responsibility for the upkeep and preservation of the church, including the iconic Shandon tower and bells.

Currently, proceeds from visitor tour admissions contribute to the maintenance and upkeep. However, the amount of work required to safeguard the church building is considerable.

While funding from grants is being sought for individual projects and overall works, matched funding or fundraising is often required to avail of those grants.

Marisa O’Mahony has been the Shandon tower manager for the past decade, and hers is the friendly face that welcomes the thousands of visitors to the church each year.

“The eight bells of Shandon are the soundtrack of Cork city, they are over 270 years old, the church itself was already 30 years old when they were installed,” she said.

“Visitors are always delighted with the experience and adventure of ringing the bells as well as being able to visit a 300-year-old tower.

“There are 132 steps each way in total to climb, so you have to have a certain level of fitness, but it’s worth it for the breathtaking view from the top over the city.

“Previously, there would have been a sexton or bell-ringer ringing the bells, but since the 1980s, it has become a self-guided tour and visitors can have a go at ringing the bells themselves.

“The bells are very straightforward to ring, there is a system of numbers which you follow and you pull the ropes towards yourself and everyone can hear them outside.

“It’s important to remember that this is an active church, so we endeavour to maintain the balance between tourism and the religious side. A funeral or a wedding takes priority,” she added.

Veronica Batts is a local resident and also a member of the Shandon Area Local History group, who were responsible for a series of wonderful panels which adorn the chapel, outlining the history of the church, which they made for the 300-year anniversary in 2022.

Veronica is well used to the soundscape of Shandon and is delighted that the restoration works are being undertaken to preserve the historical church, under whose shadow she raised seven children, who spent summer evenings playing football in the church grounds.

“I am 52 years living here in Church Street, directly in front of St Anne’s,” said Veronica.

“When I came here first, the clock used to chime every quarter of an hour night and day. At the start, I thought, how does anyone ever sleep here?

“It went right through the middle of the night - all night long. After a while I got used to it and then I came to love it.

“One ring for a quarter, two for a half, three for three quarters, four for the hour, and then it would ring the hour.

“If you woke in the middle of the night, you just had to listen for a while and you knew what time it was.

“The clock has been out of action for quite a while - I remember it was struck by lightning at one stage and a neighbour who lived in Chapel Street had her old style phone blown off the wall, and the clock stopped at the same time.

“It’s been fairly reliable over the years, but it makes no sense at the moment, so it’s great that it’s going to be repaired.”

“The clock was made by James Mangan, a well-known Cork clock-maker and jeweller,” explained Philip Stokes, a third generation horologist from MacCurtain Street who undertook an assessment of the current state of the iconic timepiece.

“In was erected in the mid-1800s - and was the first four-faced clock until the construction of Big Ben in London.

“It’s currently displaying the ravages of wear and tear from the elements, so there are a number of restoration works needed to be done - all purely age- and weather-related,” he said.

The ‘four faced liar’ was originally built by the Corporation of the City to serve the people of Cork, so hopefully its rightful place in the fabric of the city along with the rest of St Anne’s Church will once again be restored.