The Task
Three 15th-century medieval bronze bells, once housed in the bellcote of St Mary’s Abbey Church, Howth, were donated to The National Museum of Ireland by the Gaisford St Lawrence family. These historically significant bells, bearing Gothic inscriptions, played a key role in Howth’s maritime and religious heritage for centuries.
William Tracey & Sons (WTS) were entrusted with safely moving the bells from Howth Castle to the National Museum’s Conservation Stores, where they would undergo extensive conservation. Due to their age and metal fatigue, this move required specialised lifting equipment to prevent damage. Once conservation was complete, WTS was further engaged to relocate and install the bells on a 1.2-tonne concrete plinth at the National Museum in Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
The Process
Safe Removal & Transport – The WTS team carefully crane-lifted the fragile bells using bespoke lifting plates to minimise stress on the metal. They were then transported to the National Museum Conservation Stores for restoration.
Plinth Installation – After conservation, WTS was also tasked with transporting and installing a custom solid concrete plinth (1.2 tonnes), sourced from OPW Collins Barracks, and placing it in the Rotunda of the National Museum.
Final Bell Installation – On January 21, 2025, under the supervision of the Office of Public Works and National Museum Project Director Sharon Weadick, the WTS team used a three-tonne gantry, chain blocks, and specialist lifting gear to carefully position the bells onto the plinth.
The Outcome
The entire project was completed seamlessly and on schedule, over two days.
The bells are now securely in place and on public display at the National Museum, preserving Howth’s rich cultural and maritime history for generations to come.
The move was executed without incident or damage, reinforcing WTS’s expertise in specialist heritage and artefact relocation.
At William Tracey & Sons, we take pride in our ability to handle historical artefacts with the precision, care, and expertise they deserve.
