Largest Carillon in Ireland and Britain
The carillon is located in the magnificent St Colman’s Cathedral overlooking Cobh town and Cork Harbour. This beautiful setting is appropriate for an instrument that is considered one of the best examples of its genre. The 49-bell Carillon of St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh is the only such instrument in this country and is the largest in Ireland and Britain.
It also includes Ireland’s largest bell, named St Colman (3.6 tons). The carillon is played from a console within the belfry, consisting of a keyboard and a pedalboard. The action is completely mechanical and there is no artificial assist.
Adrian Gebruers, Carillonneur of St Colman’s Cathedral Carillon
In the autumn of 1924, Staf Gebruers from Antwerp (Belgium) was appointed Choirmaster, Organist and Carillonneur of St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh. He held this position with distinction until his death in 1970, having in 1969 been awarded the Papal decoration Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Bishop John Ahern appointed Adrian Gebruers to succeed his father who subsequently studied at the Royal Carillon School and St Rombouts Cathedral in Mechelen (Belgium). He has been guest recitalist on many of the world’s major carillons in Europe, North America and Australasia and the recipient of several awards and commissions in Ireland and abroad. In 2005 he was created a Papal Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope St John Paul II. A founding Vice-President of Eurocarillon, he is President Emeritus of the World Carillon Federation and of the British Carillon Society. In 2022 he was unanimously elected an Honorary Life Member of the Carillon Society of Britain and Ireland in recognition of his services to the carillon art. In March 2026 he received an Alumni Achievement Award from UCC in recognition of his lifetime’s work as carillonneur and organist described as “a source of inspiration to students and of pride to the University”.
Cobh Carillon Committee
2026 RECITAL SEASON
Recitals take place on most Sunday afternoons at 4.30 for one hour from May to September, usually presented by the Cathedral Carillonneur, Adrian Gebruers. Particularly good listening places are the Garden of Remembrance across the road from the main Cathedral entrance and the car park to the north of the Cathedral. The public can view the instrument being played live on a screen within the Cathedral. For the most up-to-date information on recitals, please log on to our Facebook www.facebook.com/Cobh49bellcarillon
As usual, there will also be a number of guest recitals presented by leading international carillonneurs, as follows:
News
“Cobh Carillon Playing” deemed part of “Ireland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage”
80 Years of Recitals
Eurocarillon 2003, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland.
