The sound of bells ringing out from Saint Mel's Cathedral has returned to Longford Town.
The familiar sound was lost when the Cathedral, including the bells,
were destroyed by fire early on Christmas Day 2009.
But now, as plan's
progress to restore the Cathedral to its former glory, a new automated
bell system has been installed.
The news was revealed this week by the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Bishop Colm O'Reilly in his annual Christmas message.
Speaking this week he said, “At the time of writing this Christmas
message, bells have begun to ring from the bell tower of Saint Mel's
Cathedral in Longford. For the people who live here in Longford the
sound of bells, silenced by fire on Christmas Day last year, has been
warmly welcomed.”
“When the bells first rang out last week people down below on the
street broke on in applause. Very fittingly at this time shortly before
Christmas the bells were like the good news announced from the heavens,
like the voices of angles in Bethlehem, who proclaimed 'Glory to God in
the highest heaven and peace on earth to men who are God's friends.’”
Speaking of the great tradition the bells held for the town of
Longford Bishop O'Reilly said, “In Irish tradition, bells have a great
significance.”
“There is one old bell which is greatly venerated in Ireland namely
the bell of Saint Patrick. Old tales about Saint Patrick claim that
when he founded a church and put a priest or a Bishop in charge he gave
him a bell as a kind of a symbol of his responsibility. If that be so
then we can well imagine that Saint Mel got his bell from Patrick when
he appointed him as Bishop here.”
“With this in mind, I welcome the return of the sound of bells coming
from Saint Mel's Cathedral. Sadly old and precious bells were
destroyed in the fire on Christmas Day 2009. These bells had an ancient
history and survived troubled times. In a damaged state they will
become a reminder in time to come of the trauma we have experienced in
the fire of Christmas 2009.”
SIC: CIN/IE