Cathedral's organ returns after repair

A priceless organ in Carlow Cathedral will shortly return to everyday use after spending a year and a half under repair.

The newly-restored 19th century pipe organ, which weighs ten tonnes and cost almost €700,000 to restore, was returned to the cathedral's historic organ loft some months ago and has now been re-tuned.

The organ, encased in handcrafted European oak, is a mixture of instruments created by two great English organ-builders of the nineteenth century, viz. Bevington and William Hill.  

A survey carried out on it two years ago showed it needed radical restoration as it was in terminal decline and would need to be either replaced or restored.

It was taken away to be worked on by restorers, Kenneth Jones and Associates in Bray and returned some months ago but then had to be re-tuned and bedded in.

The manager of the Carlow Parish Centre Bernard Geraghty said the parish was "extremely lucky to have an organ of this calibre in Carlow" and decided it should be restored.  

90% of the instrument's original 2,300 pipes had been saved, he added, but the frame was reconstructed and two new consoles were installed.

The work involved restoring all of the organ’s 2,300 pipes and re-gilding them in gold leaf and replacing the leather on the bellows.  

Ten people worked full-time on the task for over a year and only the type of glue and other materials that were used in 1850 have been used for the restoration.

“This restoration is absolutely faithful to the original craftsmanship and proper joinery, and the organ has now been totally restored.”

Last weekend, the newly operational organ was unveiled at a concert by Carlow Choral Society and Kilkenny Choral Society but its official blessing takes place in the New Year.

William Hill & Son was set up in 1755 and held a Royal Warrant for its high-class organ design.

SIC: CIN/IE

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