John Murphy (bellfounder) facts for kids

John Murphy was a skilled Irish craftsman who made bells. He was known as a bellfounder. His workshop, called a foundry, started making bells in 1843. They created many bells for churches in Ireland and other places. Some of these bells were part of special sets called rings of bells, used for a musical style called change ringing.

After John Murphy, his son, John J. Murphy, continued the family business. The foundry kept making bells until the year 1900.

Where You Can Find Murphy's Bells

John Murphy's foundry made bells for many important buildings. Here are some places where you can still find bells made by the Murphy family:

• Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin: In Dublin, Ireland, Murphy made bells for this cathedral in 1844, 1845, and 1877. This church now has nineteen bells, which is the most for change ringing in the world!
• St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne: In Australia, Murphy made a set of eight bells for this cathedral in 1852. They were fixed up in 1989.
• St. Patrick's College, Maynooth: This college in Ireland received a single bell from Murphy in 1856.
• Church of the Immaculate Conception, Wexford: In Wexford, Ireland, a single bell was made in 1858. Later, more bells were added, making it a set of nine.
• Basilica of St. John the Baptist, St. John's: This large church in Canada received bells from Murphy in 1863.
• St. Audoen's Church, Dublin: Murphy made bells for this Dublin church in 1864 and 1880.
• Thurles Cathedral: In Thurles, Ireland, Murphy made a set of eight bells in 1867. These bells cannot be rung anymore.
• Cork R.C. Cathedral: This cathedral in Cork, Ireland, received a set of eight bells and one chiming bell in 1870. These bells also cannot be rung anymore.
• John's Lane, Dublin: In Dublin, Murphy made a set of eight bells for this church in 1872. More bells were added later, making it a set of ten. They were fixed up in 1989.
• Mount St. Alphonsus (Redemptorist Church), Limerick: This church in Limerick, Ireland, received a set of eight bells in 1878. They were later recast into a set of ten bells.
• Christ Church, Glandore: In Glandore, Ireland, bells were made in 1889. They were fixed up in 2012 and can now be rung in a special way called full-circle ringing.