How many times do you get to ring the bells of the 16th-century church? Not a lot of times to never, right? St Annes's church of Shandon in Cork allows just that. For a nominal fee of 5€ ( 12 € for a family), visitors can ring church bells at any time. Great opportunity for visitors but not so much for the neighbors. At times these bells can be deafening hence all visitors are supplied with a pair of ear protectors.
The church is on the ground floor. But, to ring the infamous bells and to see the beautiful city of Cork, take those narrow, rugged stone stairs. If traveling with kids, note that there is no buggy/wheelchair access, no lift, and no bathrooms on the premises. Unlike the Blarney castle or the English market, this place does not have a lot of tourist footprint. For the most part, we were the only crowd there.
The first flight of stairs, which are rather easy to climb, opens to a grand hall. Follow the detailed instructions and pull the number chords to ring the bells. As you pull the numbered chords, bells sing a dainty song. Kids will immensely enjoy the experience of ringing bells.
Another flight of stairs leads to another hall with urns on display. Bob and Joan's statues are on display too. Climb another flight of narrow, steep, uneven stone stairs to see the bells and internal mechanism. The last flight of stairs, the most challenging of all, starts with a ladder followed by stone stairs. They can be scary for first-time visitors. Do not turn back yet! Climb the ladder and the stairs as beautiful views of the city awaits.
On a clear day, you can capture magnificent views of this beautiful city from all directions. On your way out, visit the Church. It is no basilica but a quiet place of worship. It has a wide display of old manuscripts and bibles. If time permits, visit the butter museum nearby.
Butter Museum is just a short walk from St Anne's Church. A small two-storied building houses the museum and wouldn't take more than an hour to visit. The entry fee is around €12 per family of 4.
Tour started with a detailed video about Cork Butter History. The lower level has a wide display of artifacts. How butter was made in the olden days. The upper level has a couple of rooms with more history on Cork's butter trade. It was an ok museum. If you are in a time crunch, by all means, skip this place.
