[1]Notes and references regarding the bell (assembled by C J Pickford)

• Appears in list of Irish bells in F.C. Eeles Bells of Kincardineshire (1897) p.48 includes one by Murphy at “S. Patrick’s (R.C.), Wicklow (2 tons, 1890)

• Report in the Freeman’s Journal 18 November 1889 refers to the casting of a new bell for Abbey Church, Wicklow – “A bell of unusual size has just been cast at the foundry of Mr. John Murphy, 14 Thomas-street. It is intended for the Abbey Catholic Church, Wicklow, to which it will immediately be removed; and it will be consecrated on the 24th instant by his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin. It is four feet six inches in height, five feet two inches and a half wide at the mouth, and weighs 41 cwt. Its note is about middle C – nearly the same pitch as the College Bell [i.e. Trinity College, Dublin] and the largest of the Christ Church [Dublin] ring, which was also cast by Mr. Murphy – and the tone is very pure and powerful. The process of fusing the metal for this bell occupied between eight and nine hours. It was run into the mould in about ten minutes, and the bell took some forty-eight hours to cool. The weight of the iron tongue is a cwt and a half. The bell will be mounted with a wheel on a massive frame of Irish oak. On one side of the bell is the following inscription:- “Sancti patritii nominee Gulielmo, Dublinen, Archiepiscopo, Gulielmo Can. Dillon. V.F. Parocho. Conficiente Johanne Murphy. Dublini nata sum et ab eodem Archiepiscopo consecrante Die 24 Nov. A.D. 1889. Hic uncta sum.” On the opposite appears the Irish harp, surrounded with shamrocks; and on the bell are also eight crosses. This bell reflects great credit on Mr. Murphy, whose name as an Irish bellfounder is known not only here but in England, America, and Australia”

• Another report in ibid 25 November 1889 refers to the blessing of the bell, cast by Murphy, on 24 November 1889

• Also reported (few bell details) in The Nation, 30 November 1889

• Local information (per Tim Jackson, September 2018), is that Archbishop Walsh consecrated the four ton bell on November 24, 1889. A gun carriage borrowed from the Militia brought the bell from the railway station to the Abbey corner, from there it was pulled with ropes by the townspeople. The following is inscribed on the bell [NB not exactly as in the 1889 press report]: Sancti Patritii nominee / Guilielmo Dublinen Archiepiscopo / Guilielmo Can. Dillon. V.F. Parocho. / Conficiente Joanne Murphy / Dublini. Nata sum / Et ab eodem archiepiscopo consecrante / Die XXIV Nov. A.D. 1889. Hic uncta sum.; David Cawley translates this as “I am named St Patrick. William, Archbishop of Dublin. William Canon Dillon Vicar Forain Parish Priest. I was born at the foundry of John Murphy, Dublin, and consecrated by the same Archbishop 24th November, The year of our Lord 1889. Here I was anointed.” Cawley adds “I rather imagine that “here” was the actual spot on which Patrick was anointed. Re “Forain”, the word sounds like its spelled that way, I think it means a sort of Rural Dean.”

Published: 15/06/2024