Church of St Anne

The Church of St Anne sits on a hilltop in the Shandon district and displays distinctive red sandstone and white limestone walls. Its octagonal tower rises 36 meters high with eight bells inside and a golden salmon weathervane crowning the top.

Construction took place between 1722 and 1726, replacing an earlier building destroyed during the 1690 Siege of Cork. The new structure soon became one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and continues to shape urban life today.

The eight bells ring regularly across the city and have shaped Cork's soundscape for generations. The song 'The Bells of Shandon' by Francis Sylvester Mahony captures how deeply this sound is woven into local memories and identity.

You can climb the tower stairs to reach a viewing platform at 36 meters high for panoramic city views. The stairs are steep and require reasonable fitness, but the vantage point rewards you with clear sightlines across Cork and the surrounding landscape.

The tower's four clock faces display different times, earning the building the playful nickname 'Four-Faced Liar' among locals and visitors. This quirk adds a touch of humor to an otherwise formal landmark and makes it instantly memorable.

Location: Cork

Inception: 1722

Website: http://shandonbells.ie

GPS coordinates: 51.90333,-8.47611

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:00