Cork City Council Celebrates Completion of Landmark Shandon Restoration as Church’s Original 300-year-old Doors are Installed

30/03/2026

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, rang the bells of the city’s famous St Anne’s Church at Shandon to mark the formal completion of a major Cork City Council-led triple-track restoration project.

The Lord Mayor visited the landmark church to celebrate with the Church of Ireland community the completion of the three large restoration projects which were all delivered at the same time.

“Thanks to Cork City Council, generous state funding, the Select Vestry of St Anne’s and a team of highly skilled and dedicated craftspeople, the renewed St Anne’s is ready to face the future with confidence,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We recognise that further restoration work will be needed to safeguard this cherished building for generations to come.

“Heritage buildings of this age and of this significance require ongoing care, and we know that its journey of renewal must continue.

“However, the successful delivery of these three major restoration projects, which were completed alongside each other, stands as a powerful demonstration of our commitment to this wonderful building and its future.”

Cork City Council assisted with three restoration projects at St Anne’s which involved major works to its clock faces and clock mechanism, to its bells supports, and to its original 300-year-old front doors.

The Lord Mayor also hailed the expert craftspeople who were involved in all three projects.

“Their dedication has secured the future of his landmark building,” the Lord Mayor said.

“They worked with extraordinary skill and care, respecting centuries-old techniques while applying modern craftsmanship of the highest standard. They have helped safeguard part of Cork’s soul. Their work allows future generations to admire and enjoy Shandon as so many have before them.”

The Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O’Sullivan, said the restoration of the iconic Shandon is a powerful reminder of Cork City Council’s commitment to protecting and celebrating our heritage.

“And this historic area will see more soon. The City Council is working to advance the restoration and regeneration of the historic Butter Market and Weighmaster’s House as Shandon Exchange – a landmark enterprise and community hub – thanks to €7m in funding awarded to the City Council under THRIVE-Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme,” the Chief Executive said.

“Shandon Exchange will act as a catalyst for innovation, partnership and community development and will help transform what is already a wonderful part of the city.”

City Architect, Cathal O’Boyle said: “The City Architects were delighted to be involved in the renewal of the St Anne’s clock and tower as part of our ongoing work to revitalise the heart of Shandon.

“Our ongoing work in the Butter Exchange will support this work to delivering the first phase of the Integrated Urban Strategy for Shandon.

“St Anne’s, Shandon will continue to be a symbol of the city shining out across the city and the community.”

Jessie Castle, an executive Architectural Conservation Officer with Cork City Council, said: “The completed conservation works at St Anne’s are a testament to what can be successfully achieved through multi-disciplinary collaboration, and are a credit to the craftmanship of the Cork-based specialist contractors and professionals who dedicated many months to achieving this wonderful outcome.

“This project is one of several focusing on the landmark historic buildings in Shandon, and follows the completion of a new roof for the Firkin Crane and the successful THRIVE funding bid for the restoration and reimagination of the Butter Market complex.”

A key feature of this triple restoration project at St Anne’s Shandon was the involvement of Cork-based craft experts.

The clock restoration team was led by Keith Starr, of Hearthstone Building and Restoration, Glanmire, and assisted by Conservation Architect – James Bourke, James Bourke Architects, Castlemartyr, and involved horologist Philip Stokes (Stokes Clocks, McCurtain St, gold leaf work was completed by Sally Stokes, of Stokes Clocks, ironmongery by Leeside Forge, Monahan Road. The project manager was the Architects Department of Cork City Council, with grant administration and supervision by the City Council’s Conservation Officer.

The tower stonework cleaning team was also led by Keith Starr, and involved Conservation Architect James Bourke.

The church doors restoration team was also led by Keith Starr and involved Conservation Architect James Bourke, with ironmongery by Leeside Forge, and grant administration and supervision by Cork City Council’s Conservation Officer.

The timber bells support project was led by Keith Starr, and involved Conservation Architect James Bourke, as well as Consulting Engineer John Kelly, of the David Kelly Partnership, Youghal, timber specialist, Peter Barrett, of PJ Barrett & Co, Cork, with grant administration and supervision by Cork City Council’s City Archaeologist.

St Anne’s Church, dating to 1722, is a monument of huge archaeological, architectural, historical, social and cultural significance and is widely used as the symbol of Cork City, particularly the tower, clock and salmon weathervane (known as the ‘goldie fish’).

Perched high above the city on the northside of Cork the tower of the church is a landmark with the four-faced clock providing the time for the population living and working on all sides of the tower.