John Spillane to headline concert raising funds for conservation of Shandon church

John Spillane (pictured) will be part of an eclectic mix of musical acts, featuring performer and music educator Dr Dara O’Brien of University College Cork (UCC) performing on the sitar; Mesopotami, a fusion of music from Turkey, Morocco, Armenia, and the Middle East; and a selection of hymns in the Irish language. File picture: Larry Cummins

A benefit concert is set to take place in Cork’s famous Shandon church to help raise funds for urgent conservation works on the iconic building.

The concert, which will be hosted in the landmark St Anne's Church on the city’s northside later this month, will be headlined by Cork legend, singer songwriter and recent Irish Folk Music award winner, John Spillane.

He will be part of an eclectic mix of musical acts, featuring performer and music educator Dr Dara O’Brien of University College Cork (UCC) performing on the sitar, the tradition and classical Indian stringed instrument; Mesopotami, a fusion of music from Turkey, Morocco, Armenia, and the Middle East; and a selection of hymns in the Irish language.

The concert comes amid ongoing concern over the structural integrity of the beloved Shandon steeple where its clock mechanism and famous clock tower, known affectionately as the ‘four-faced liar’, require urgent repairs, estimated to cost in the region of €400,000. File picture: Larry Cummins

The concert comes amid ongoing concern over the structural integrity of the beloved Shandon steeple where its clock mechanism and famous clock tower, known affectionately as the ‘four-faced liar’, require urgent repairs, estimated to cost in the region of €400,000.

Cork City Council has applied for funding for the work but other areas of the building require urgent attention too.

The benefit concert is the brainchild of local parishioner, Richard Harrison, better known as Risteard Mac Annraoí, who wrote the History of Shandon and who has translated several hymns into Irish. 

He brought the idea to the church authorities who gave approval for a concert he said has “more or less organised itself”.

“I had two motives when I came up with the idea. One was to raise money for the conservation fund for the church,” he said.

“But also, at back of mind, was the fact that the world is descending into chaos at the moment, and I wanted to affirm good values and a good sense of community.

The four Mangan clocks at Church of St Anne, Shandon, Cork have stopped. The belfry at the famous bells. The No.8 bell is currently out of action/unavailable and the bell repair is part of the long list of works required at the heritage site. Picture: Larry Cummins

“There is a lot of upkeep required for a building like Shandon that dates from the 1780s but we have a small and shrinking Protestant community here on the northside.

“There is some income generated by the tower tours but it's just not possible for a tiny community of around 120 people to undertake and fund all of the maintenance required.

“Shandon belongs to all of Cork. The whole Shandon area has become a melting pot in recent years, and I think Shandon, St Anne’s, could become the focal point. 

"I would like to see it used more as a community space, to affirm positive community values.” 

(Left to right) Reverend Meghan Farr and Richard Harrison at Shandon. File picture: Larry Cummins

Reverend Meghan Farr, the priest in charge of the Parish of Saint Anne, Shandon, said they are blessed to have someone like Richard in their church community.

"The tower and clock mechanisms require urgent attention, and that is being pursued by the city council. But everything above the clock, the bells, and the rest of the structure, that’s all on us," she said.

The two-hour Téada Earraigh – Spring Strings concert takes place on March 20, with doors opening at 7pm. Tickets priced €23 are available online now at stanneshandon.ie.