NATIONALIST & LEINSTER TIMES 8th August 1891
On Monday last the
Most Rev. Dr. Comerford, Coadjutor
Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, performed the ceremony of blessing
a new bell for Carlow-Graigue Church. His Lordship, who was in
full canonicals, was assisted by the Rev. Daniel Byrne PP,
Carlow-Graigue; Rev. Dr. Burke, President Carlow College; Rev.
John Byrne CC, Carlow; Rev. Patrick Gorry CC and Rev. J. Farrell
CC, Carlow-Graigue. The ceremony, which was very imposing,
attracted a large gathering of parishioners and others to the
church and, being of rare occurrence, was witnessed with much
interest and reverence by the assemblage.
The bell bears the following inscription:
“Dedicated to St. Fiech (SIC) - Daniel Byrne, PP.
Carlow-Graigue “. The maker’s name follows - “Byrne’s Fountain
Head Bell Foundary, James’ Street, Dublin“.
It arrived from Dublin on Monday morning in charge of Mr
Frank F. Byrne who had it placed in position on the following
day when it was tested.
The funds to purchase the bell were, to a large extent,
realised by our own talented local Amateur Theatrical Company.
We understand it is the committee’s intention to hand over a
balance as a nucleus to the projected bell fund of Killeshin
Church. With such a “God Speed” as this generous gift, the
Killeshin people should soon be able to place a large bell in
their church tower. Few are aware that the present Killeshin
bell bears a date as far back as 1641. It is, of course, now a
miserable sounding thing to have in a tower, which, we believe,
is capable of holding a bell of two tons weight.
This article appeared in
Fiacc's Folk 1997/98
