Demonstration of Medieval Bronze Hand Bell Casting
15 - 16 August, 11am - 5pm
- Lusk Community Cultural Centre
- Church Road, Lusk, Co Dublin
- K45 CP40
- Co. Dublin – Fingal
As part of Heritage Week / Lusk Heritage Festival 2026, Lusk Community Council is delighted to have two eminent experts on the making and heritage related to hand bells in the early Irish church on site. Artist Holger Lonze will set up a demonstration from 11am to 5pm daily to cast bronze medieval hand bells. (supported by Fingal County Council Heritage)
The demonstration will give the local community insight into the material culture and technology of the Medieval period, bringing local archaeology and history alive. He will be using a charcoal pit furnace to cast bronze hand bells. The focus will be on making medieval Irish handbells relevant to the history and early Christian heritage of Lusk.
Bell making demonstration & talk take place in the Lusk Community Cultural Centre, car park, Church Road, Lusk K45 CP40. Casting of bells takes place at 4pm 15 August & 12pm & 2pm Sunday 16 August.
At 2-3pm on Saturday 15 August, Cormac Bourke will give a talk on “Bells and bell ringing in the early Irish church”, Cormac is an expert in Irish Medieval studies and author of the highly regarded book “Medieval Hand Bells of Ireland and Britain”
The heritage & making of hand bells from the early church in Ireland is at risk of being lost and meets the theme of Heritage week 2026 “Heritage at Risk”
Car parking available in the Cottage Community Centre, Church Road, Lusk K45 VE83