Bishop Phonsie Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore is asking that bells in the Cathedral in Waterford city along with church bells throughout the Diocese ring out at 11am on St Patrick’s Day ‘in order to celebrate our national patron’.

“At this time, due to the coronavirus, Mass is being celebrated but without the congregation being physically present.”

The bell ringing he said, is ‘a call to prayer wherever you are, and a reminder of the faith that has sustained the people of our island throughout the centuries’.

“The bell ringing is also an expression of social solidarity, an encouragement to care for one another, and for all of us to be inspired and remain hopeful at the difficult time.”