Church bells to ring around Cork this Sunday in support of frontline workers

PARISHES across Cork will let their church bells chime in unison to honour the efforts of frontline workers during Ireland’s Covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Connolly, a volunteer with soup kitchen charity Cork Penny Dinners, had initially just planned to organise a city wide round of applause. However, after joining forces with Don O’Sullivan from Knocknaheeny-who runs the Impact Cork Community Matters Facebook page they have taken their idea to another level.

Their hope is that at 7pm this Sunday communities will step out of their houses and applaud the work of those working during the coronavirus epidemic. Their applause will be against the acoustic backdrop of church bells throughout the city and county.

Don has been liaising with a number of priests who have agreed to get on board to celebrate the valuable work of Corkonians during challenging times.

“This isn’t just for the emergency services,” Don said. “It’s for everyone working through this crisis from the shop assistants and bus drivers to the people who deliver our post and take-aways.” Some of the churches already involved in the initiative include St Mary on the Hill Church in Hollyhill and Our Lady Crowned in Mayfield. Don is encouraging every household in Cork to play their part this Sunday.

“We are asking everyone to get involved and make as much noise as we can this Sunday. Cork is the envy of other counties and I think it’s about time we put our shoulder to the wheel and show solidarity. This is never been done on such a large scale before. There were bells that chimed in Spain through a small villages but there has never been ones ringing through the whole city ” Don is also encouraging people to play instruments if possible and record their performances for social media to mark the occasion.

He is inviting people to then upload their recordings to the Impact Our Community Matters and the Cork Penny Dinners Facebook pages.

Other members of the impact Our Community Matters page helping with the initiative include Valerie Haynes, Sean O’Sullivan, Amanda Harris and Fiona Neville.

Churches who are yet to get on board for the event can contact Don through the Impact Our Community Matters page on Facebook or email donosullivan@mail.com