Shandon Bells & Tower, St Anne's Church

Built in 1722, the Church of St. Anne, Cork city, is one of the most important early 18th century churches in Ireland. Reached by a maze of winding streets, the church features a barrelled, vaulted ceiling, colourful stained glass windows and a stone baptismal font that dates from 1629. Standing 50 metres high above the surrounding Shandon neighbourhood, visitors can climb the narrow stone steps to the bell tower, topped by a 3-metre gold fish weathervane. This weathervane symbolises both the early Christian symbol for the Lord and also the salmon inhabiting the nearby River Lee. The bell tower offers spectacular views of the city and surrounding areas spread below, while visitors also have an opportunity to ring these bells, commemorated in music and verse. A selection of sheet music is available for would be campanologists (bell-ringers), who tackle the eight famous bells, weighing six tonnes.