Following on from the remarkable recovery of the long-lost Brigidine cross, Abbeyleix has once again seen the return of an old artifact.

An 18th century hand bell from Clonkeen, believed to date back to the early 1700's, was recovered and returned to the parish of Abbeyleix.

Local historian Noel Burke told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about the fascinating story.

"When local man Darran Hutchinson was ten years of age, he spent his summer holidays working in his neighbour's workshop. He would help his neighbour Pat take apart and re-piece all types of engines," Mr Burke said.

Pictured: the recovered Clonkeen bell. Photo: James G Carroll

One day, Pat produced a small handbell he had found underground in Clonkeen, just outside the walls of the graveyard, but not close enough to the boundary to be considered part of the old Clonkeen settlement.

"Pat had unearthed the bell in 1960, but didn’t reveal this find to anybody else as there didn’t seem to be any interest in history or heritage at the time, not like there is today,"  he explained.

"Pat, even back then, felt that the bell belonged to the history of the place; he kept it stored in his workshop for the length of time that the bell was in his possession."

Pat passed the bell on to Darran many years later, when his health deteriorated. Darran was instructed to mind the bell, and he brought it home to his father's garage in Killamuck.

The bell had remained hidden and unspoken of within the Hutchinson family for more than forty years, until this week. Mr Hutchinson presented the bell to the historical society.

Pictured: Historian Noel Burke presents the bell to Laois County Council Heritage Officer Thomas Carolan for inspection. 

"The bell itself bears no inscription. Its form is plain, its clapper hand-forged. But its silence speaks volumes," Mr Burke said.

"Whether used in worship, schooling, or community gathering, it may be one of the few surviving artefacts from Clonkeen’s clandestine Catholic life- a life that persisted until Abbeyleix became a parish in 1824.

"Today as Abbeyleix, a relatively new town celebrates 200 years as a parish, this humble bell reminds us of the generations who kept faith alive in fields and forests, long before our churches rose in stone," Mr Burke said.

The historian expressed his delight in seeing the return of this artifact to the Laois community, and praised Mr Hutchinson for carefully taking care of the bell for over 40 years.

"Darran wasn’t even born when his neighbour Pat first unearthed the Clonkeen bell. At the time he was given the bell, it didn’t seem to him like a big deal, but still thought in the back of his mind that the bell might be significant one day," Mr Burke said.

Clonkeen church and graveyard. Photo: James G Carroll

"As interest in local history has grown here in Abbeyleix over recent years, the medieval church of Clonkeen has become more important than ever. Darran felt it was right that the bell should now be brought forward and considered properly, especially if it is what we now believe it may be," he explained.

"I’m deeply grateful to Darran for preserving it, and for sharing this memory. Every small act of care like this helps us rebuild the larger story of Clonkeen church & graveyard, piece by piece," Mr Burke praised.

The historical society say that they have used artificial intelligence, along with known history, to determine the bell's age and origins. Mr Burke thanked fellow historian Kevin O'Brien for his assistance in this matter.

"I’m sure with further research in time the Clonkeen bell may still have further information to reveal," Mr Burke said.

The historian believes that the bell may once have rung across Kenny’s sandpit in Clonkeen, summoning worshippers to the 'Mass Field' during the harsh years of the Penal Laws.

Pictured: Father Paddy Byrne with a portable wooden Penal Cross, used during the 17th and 18th centuries in Mass Fields such as Clonkeen. Photo: James G Carroll

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Mr Burke presented the bell to Laois County Council heritage officer Thomas Carolan. The Abbeyleix & District Historical Society say that they are always open to new members. 

The group will meet in Abbeyleix's Heritage House on Wednesday the 25th of February 25, from 7pm to 8pm.