Gardaí in Co Kerry are investigating the theft of a rare 18th century bronze church bell, stolen from a former Church of Ireland church in Castleisland.
The bell was cast near Cheltenham in 1776 and it was taken from inside the former church and now the Ivy Leaf Theatre, in Castleisland, on last Wednesday night or the early hours of Thursday morning.
Standing 2½ft high and weighing about 350lb, it was on a 12ft high shelf inside the building, having been placed there after a fire damaged the old church.
Equipment as well as transport to move the 350lb bell would have been needed, and gardaí suspect a number of people were involved in the removal.
The bell was made by Thomas Rudhall, of a well known bell making family in Gloucester. Originally one of 5,000, only 16 now exist, according to Michael Burke, maintenance man at the Ivy Leaf Theatre.
Similar bells are to be found at the larger St Anne’s Church, Shandon and also St Finbarre’s Cathedral, as well as in Trinity College, Dublin.
Gardaí and Mr Burke are asking scrap dealers and junkyard owners to be on the look out and to report it if they are approached.