New clocks arrive for Ss Peter and Paul's Church

The new clocks for Ss Peter and Paul's Church have been put in place as the €350,000 facelift of the iconic building and protected structure continues ahead of its 75th anniversary in 2012. The clocks were put in place last week and are capable of playing some 244 different chimes, the first of which was heard on Saturday last for the wedding of Michelle Daly and Trevor Behan. Parish Priest Canon Liam Devine told the Westmeath Independent yesterday (Tuesday) that the facelift is continuing with the next task involving the restoration of eight urns on the church's two towers. "The eight urns have to be taken down from the two towers, four from each. They were danger of falling. New ones have to be made up and put up exactly the same as it's a listed building," he explained. The upper part of the church then needs to be cleaned so that it will match the lower part of the building. While the lower walls of the church are granite-faced and remain in good condition, the upper walls are finished in plaster and have not weathered very well. Canon Devine said it is expected this work will be complete by the end of October. Work on the interior of the building is due to begin in January of next year as Canon Devine explained there are no weddings booked in the church for the first three or four months of the year and they didn't want to have the church painted while weddings were booked. The church will remain open during this time but the project will be carried out in two phases, with half of the building to be closed off during each. WYG Ireland (the Athlone branch which was formerly Malachi Cullen and Partners) are consulting engineers for the restoration project, while Rosemount's Kelly Builders Ltd are the contractors and Dublin firm J Rainey & Co are the steeplejacks. It's expected that the work will be complete by Easter next, and that the total cost will be in the region of €350,000. In order to meet the costs of the refurbishment project the parish has planned some fundraising initiatives, the largest of which includes a monster draw. Tickets for the draw cost €100, but this ticket gives you entry into two draws, the first of which takes place on November 27 and the second on February 27. The prize fund for both draws is €100,000. Canon Devine explained that the tickets were selling, with some 300 tickets sold to date, but said more support was needed in order for the parish to reach its target. A golf classic had originally been planned for September 5, but Canon Devine said it was decided it was too late in the year to hold a golf classic and this may now take place next year instead.