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THE TOWER AND BELLS OF THE CHURCH OF

MOUNT ST. ALPHONSUS

The donor of the Tower and first peal of bells was John Quinn,a Limerick tea-merchant. The work was begun in the spring of 1876 with the soil being excavated to a depth of 15ft. below ground level. Stones weighing upto 1 tonne and measuring 4ft. in length,2-3ft. thick and 14in. high were used to bring the walls upto ground level. All the stone was quarried locally in Boherboy Quarry. The foundation stone of the tower was laid by John Quinn Esq. on the 18/6/1876, the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, to whom the tower is dedicated. The cross was erected on the spire on Thursday Sept.12 1878. The height of the tower and spire is 186ft. The cost to erect the tower and spire was £8000. The original bells (9 in number) were cast by John Murphy, Bellfounder, Dublin and cost £1195. The solemn Blessing, Consecration and Dedication of the bells took place on Thurs. March 25th. 1879, the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ceremony was performed by his Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Butler, Bishop of Limerick. The bells were pealed for the last time on 28/4/1947. The present bells (11 in number) were recast by John Taylor & Co. Ltd. Bellfounders, Loughboro, England in 1947. The solemn Blessing, Consecration and Dedication of the bells took place on Sunday 30th. 1947 by his Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. O`Neill, Bishop of Limerick, and the 10 bells first rang out over the city on Sat. Dec. 20th. 1947. Each bell is dedicated to a saint whose name is inscribed on the bell together with the words "Ora Pro Nobis. Each bell also carries the inscription CAST BY J. MURPHY, DUBLIN 1878 - RECAST BY JOHN TAYLOR,LOUGHBORO.

The architects were Messers Goldi & Childs, London.

The contractors were Messers J Ryan, Waterford

The rectors of Mt. St. Alphonsus were

Very Rev. Fr. O`Donnel CssR 1876

Very Rev. Fr. P Kelly CssR 1947.