The Bells of Shandon - Where Love Stories Begin

Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, Napoleon and Josephine, Diarmuid and Grainne, Stephen and Lorraine...

Stephen and Lorraine?
All the above listed people were "Couples in Love" and into that category, in the year of 2007, steps Stephen and Lorraine. Let me explain......
Back at the start of 2007 I received a very intriguing email, which I will now share with you.

Stephen - one of Cork's great young romanticists

Dear Sir, The following is a rather unusual request! Sunday January 14th is the 3rd anniversary of the day I met Lorraine, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Our very first date was spent at the top of the Shandon Bells overlooking our hometown and we both cherish the church and it's famous steeple for what it represents to the people of Cork and more importantly what it represents to our family and us. Like all Cork families stories of the Bells have passed through our generations.

Just seeing the bells on the horizon still brings a tear to Lorraine's eyes. We are moving to New Zealand at the end of January 2007 and we want to visit the bells one last time before we go so here is my request. It would be an incredible beginning to our new life together if it were possible for me to propose marriage to Lorraine at the top of the Shandon Bells on Sunday the 14th.
I am aware that the bells are not normally open to visitors on a Sunday but I was hoping that maybe an exception could be made? The time on Sunday is not important, morning, noon or evening. If some form of arrangement could be made then I will be eternally grateful, if not then I completely understand.
  Yours Sincerely,
  Stephen Buckley

Now, who among us could refuse such a request, certainly not I. So, I replied in the affirmative and then we went into Secret Mode - Stephen and myself. The plot thickened as the days went by and Lorraine's mother was brought into the great proposal. She had consented to come up from Skibbereen to be part of the great day in the lives of her daughter and her future son-in-law. This trip was also part of the Great Surprise.

Lorraine - the light of Stephens' eyes

Stephen's Story: I first spotted Lorraine three years ago and when I saw her incredible smile for the first time and I knew, at that moment, that she was the one for me, the girl that I wanted to make my wife and spend the rest of my life with. After a series of awkward introductions and brief conversations, we decided to go on a proper date to try and get to know each other better. After numerous attempts at arranging this illustrious date failed, due to work commitments, I eventually persuaded Lorraine to come up to Cork city from her hometown of Skibbereen for our first official date. We were so relaxed in each other's company that it was incredible and had a real feel good factor about it. We spent a couple of hours laughing and joking, and after several cups of coffee, I decided to make it a date to remember, for both of us, by convincing Lorraine to climb to the top of the Church of St. Anne Shandon and ring the famous bells. At the time I knew nothing of the immense significance of Shandon to Lorraine and her family. Stories of Shandon have been passed through generations of my family, as it has with most Cork families and months later I learned Lorraine's grandmother was gravely ill in the Mercy Hospital on New Years Eve some years ago and all she wanted was to hear the Bells of Shandon one more time. She got her wish that night when the bells tolled at 6-00pm and she eventually passed on peacefully and contented. A story that brings a tear to Lorraine's eyes every time she sees that beautiful tower. Obviously by suggesting to take her to the bells was a really smooth move on my behalf but I didn't realise how smooth it was until she shared the story of her grandmother. I was collecting brownie points and I never even knew it. We climbed to the very top of Shandon that day where I proceeded to point out all of Corks' landmarks and when I eventually shut up I couldn't help but stand back and admire what was undoubtedly the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life, my Lorraine, the woman I wanted to spend my life with. Ever since that day, Lorraine and I have spent every possible minute together and every New Years Eve we stand outside Shandon and watch as the Four Faced Liar tolls in another wonderful New Year. We are heading to New Zealand at the end of January and to propose marriage to Lorraine at the top of Shandon, exactly three years after that wonderful first date would be amazing, and for her to accept would be a dream come true.
Well the day arrived..... Stephen phoned me a few times to make sure all was in place. He was so excited that the excitement rubbed off on me and I got so excited that you'd swear it was me who was doing the proposing. At the appointed time, 2-30pm, my mobile phone rang to let me know they had arrived. I opened the door and the lovers appeared. After making small talk (I did not want to sound too excited as I might give the game away) up the tower they went and when they came down about fifteen minutes later Stephen gave me the thumbs up. Lorraine was overcome with emotion. All I could do was to hug them both.	The Proposal
Ringing out their Love over Cork	I sent them back up the tower to ring the bells and to take the official photographs but the real purpose was to see if her mother had turned up. Once they were out of sight I opened the door of the Church and sure enough there was mother with a huge bunch of flowers. I indicated her to be quiet. Speaking in whispers I shared the plan with her and we both crept up the stairs. I left the mother halfway there and told her to listen for the password. When I said "January 14th is a great day" she was to climb the last few steps and surprise her daughter. It all worked like a dream and I can tell you now that when mother appeared with the flowers there was not a dry eye to be seen.
It is for moments like these that I love the position of curator in this old historic church. Of all the great moments that I have had whilst here, this has to be the best by a long shot. Declan	Lorraine, Mum and Stephen
Now, all we have to do is to wish the couple all the best on their new life together in New Zealand and hopefully they will come back to Cork to get married. Watch this space....