The Dubliners
Friday 3 June 2011
Peter Bill
writes...
No, this is not an Irish Ceilidh band, but
some Devon ringers on what seems to have become an annual event
ringing on mini rings outside England.
This year the Exeter based group together
with some friends from Somerset made their way to Dublin where
there is a mini ring and of course lots of Guinness. Three
couples flew over on the Tuesday for some sightseeing and the
opportunity to grab the bells at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (and
some Guinness). On the Thursday evening the rest of the group
arrived for a practice ring on Leslie Taylor’s as yet unpealed
bells and we were joined by some other ringing visitors from
Hereford, afterwards repairing to Maguire’s micro brewery (as an
excellent alternative to Guinness) where eventually Margaret
joined us following her later flight from Bristol.
The next morning a
peal of
Dublin Surprise was rung without problem in spite of the
venue (St. Michan’s Church) being open to the public and hosting
guided tours every half hour. After lunch a
quarter
was rung for those not involved in the peal and then whilst most
of the band rested themselves to prepare for the evening
practice at Christchurch Cathedral three of us rang
a
handbell quarter which created further interest for the
visitors to the church. Fortunately there were enough ringers at
Christchurch to ring call changes on all 16 bells though ringing
on such a large numbers made the brain ache enough to need to go
to the Lord Edward Pub afterwards for some fine Beamish Stout
(another alternative to Guinness).
The next day the Hilling family left us
for their holiday near Limerick and the group went in different
directions sightseeing before coming together for a an Italian
Meal in the evening where the Valpolicella made a good antidote
to all that Guinness.
A final ring at the two Cathedrals on the
Sunday morning for service completed an excellent weekend with
some special memories of Irish Hospitality (and the Guinness of
course)
Peal band (l-r): Lester Yeo Peter Bill, Margaret Chapman,
Graham Tucker, Ian Campbell, Richard
Newman, Lesley Tucker, Matthew Hilling
Toby Hilling receives his first
ringing lesson; trying the mini-ring;
ringing 16 at Christ
Church; final night dinner
Enjoying the "free pint" at the
Guiness Factory
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