24 September 1997
By Tom Gillespie
The imposing clock in the tower of Christ Church, Castlebar will be working again from this evening (Wednesday) following a major restoration operation. The timepiece has been silent for the past twenty years and its thanks to the painstaking research of local man Ivan Brown that the work has been carried out.
Mr. Brown, from Fr. Meehan Place, visited clockmakers John Smith and Company of Derby last year and discovered that they originally made the clock, which has a quarter ting-tang hour striking movement, in 1905. It was in poor condition and needed dismantling and cleaning. The three hammers which operate the bells were very rusty and the dials needed replacing.
Mr. Brown, who is currently working on another major restoration project, was joined by a representative from Smith's of Derby. When the final touches are put to the clock today it will chime on the quarter, half and on the hour.
It is all part of a major £200,000 restoration campaign which is on-going at the 258-year old Church. It is planned to open up the Clock tower as a tourist viewing attraction and extensive works are to be undertaken in the church and surrounding grounds.
Castlebar Urban Council were first off the mark and donated £1,000 towards the repair of the clock.
Mr. Derek Carson, secretary of the restoration fund committee said: "While the clock was out of action the general public may have assumed activities in the church were equally dormant, which was not the case. The new lease of life for the clock will be evident to everyone in the town as it chimes out the time once again."
He said they were indebted to Mr. Brown for his detailed research and work on the project. He now takes on the role as clock-minder at Christ Church having the task of winding it every seven days.
