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Pipe Organ Preservation Co.of Ireland · Alistair McCartney
Ranks of metal pipes standing on the soundboard of the Bevington organ

Research & Archive

A record of the organs of Ireland.

Over many years Alistair McCartney has compiled records of organs — pipe, reed and electronic — in churches across Northern Ireland and the Republic, surveying most pipe organs past and present in detail, including a chronological list of 792 organs visited up to 2007. The detailed records migrated to this site so far are a part of that archive, not the whole of it.

Detailed records currently migrated
51
Builders represented in this archive
49
Photographs
204

Builders represented in this archive

Builders represented in this archive

Compiled from the builder history of each record migrated so far. This is not a complete index of Irish organ builders; the wider research database has still to be imported.

A E Davies Northampton

Abbey Organ Co Belfast

Anon

Bates

Bevington

Bevington & Sons London

Binns

Bishop & Son London

Blackett & Howden

Casson

Cramer Wood & Co London

Cramer, Wood & Co. London

Davies

Easter

Evans & Barr

Evans & Barr Ltd Belfast

Geo. Osmond & Co. Taunton

Geo. Osmond & Co. Taunton 1960s

George Benson

George Jackson Oxford

Gilks 1960s

Harrison & Harrison, Durham

Hart & Churchill Ltd Belfast

Hill

Irish Organ Co Belfast

Irish Organ Co.

J W Walker & Son London

J W Walker & Sons

J W Walker & Sons London

J. W. Walker & Sons

John Compton London

John Compton Organ Co Ltd London

Kenneth Jones Glendalough & Bray

Laycock & Bannister

Magahy

Merkin

Minns Taunton ?

Peter Conacher & Co Ltd Huddersfield

R H Walker

Stephen Shaw Pipe Organs Bangor

Telford

Telford & Telford

Thomas Robson, London

unknown

W G Vowles

Walker?

William Drake, Buckfastleigh

William Johnson / Peter Collins

Young

Detailed POPCo records online

Instrument records

Each record carries the original narrative, staged photography, specification and builder history.

Contract record

Recently completed work

Contracts completed without a full photographic record, listed as originally published.

  1. 2022Omagh Methodist ChurchCo. TyroneFull restoration of a 1923 Evans & Barr ideal organ.
  2. 2022St Macartin's Cathedral, EnniskillenCo. FermanaghRewiring, several stop changes and painting of front pipes, including restoration and painting of the west case pipes.
  3. 2021Baronscourt ChurchCo. TyroneFull restoration of a 1905 Casson organ.
  4. 2021Drumbanagher ChurchCo. ArmaghRemoval of an 1899 Telford one manual and pedal organ for building work, with thorough overhaul and reinstatement.
  5. 2020Monasterevin RC ChurchCo. KildareReleathering and repairs to a Binns organ.
  6. 2019–201st Presbyterian Church, AntrimCo. AntrimResiting of the console, cleaning and alterations.
  7. 2019–20St Mary's RC Church, HexhamNorthumbriaRebuild and installation of the 1983 Wells-Kennedy organ from St Martin's, Belfast.
  8. 2019Garvary Church, EnniskillenCo. FermanaghInstallation of a small Thomas Jones organ.
  9. 2019Kilmood ChurchCo. DownInstallation of an 8 rank J W Walker 1884 organ.
  10. 2018Killinchy ChurchCo. DownInstallation of a 6 rank Harrison 1899 organ.
  11. 2018Ballyclare Non-subscribing Presbyterian ChurchCo. AntrimRewiring and restoration of case pipes.
  12. 2018–19Killadeas ChurchCo. FermanaghNew Great five rank chest.
  13. 2017St Bernadette's Church, RosettaBelfastRebuild and enlargement.
  14. 2017Armagh RC CathedralCo. ArmaghInstallation of the Kenneth Jones organ.
  15. 2017Stoneyford ChurchCo. AntrimRebuild with upgrade of the electric control system and a new case.
  16. 2017St Eugene's RC Cathedral, LondonderryCo. LondonderryCleaning and recommissioning a 1955 Compton organ after a period of disuse.
  17. 2016St Paul's RC Church, BessbrookCo. ArmaghSmall modifications on a limited budget: addition of swell shutters, new stop controls and Bourdon relocation.
  18. 2015Holy Trinity Church, Turf LodgeBelfastRelocating and improving a Wells-Kennedy organ.
  19. 2015St Patrick's Church, DownpatrickCo. DownConversion back to mechanical action together with a new swell soundboard.
  20. 2015–16St John's Church, MaloneBelfastExtensive revoicing and additions.
  21. 2015Saul Parish Church, DownpatrickCo. DownRestoration of soundboard and pedal action.
  22. 2015St Peter's RC Church, WarrenpointCo. DownRebuild with the addition of a swell manual.
  23. 2014St Luke's RC Church, TwinbrookBelfastRelocation of a J W Walker four rank extension organ.
  24. 2013Ardtrea Parish Church, near CookstownCo. TyroneRelocation of the c1928 Evans & Barr ideal organ from Maze Presbyterian — its fourth home, having started in 2nd Killyleagh.
  25. 2013Star of the Sea, KillyleaghCo. DownRelocation of a two manual and pedal eight stop tracker by Wells-Kennedy, 1988, from Harryville, Ballymena.
  26. 2011St Paul's Parish Church, York StreetBelfastRevoicing with balances between ranks drastically altered and various ranks rescaled to remove the overall hard, stringy tone.
  27. 2011St Brendan's Parish Church, SydenhamBelfastGreat organ rebuilt and connected, prepared for since the organ was built 43 years previously in 1968.
  28. 2008–09All Saints' Parish Church, AntrimCo. AntrimAdditional and replacement stops fitted to make the 1892 Conacher organ more effective in the building.
  29. 2007Holy Trinity Church, Seapatrick, BanbridgeCo. DownThe three manual 1883 Conacher organ revoiced, electrics upgraded and a new Great soundboard fitted, with a high pressure Tuba installed at the west end.
  30. 2007Ballyclog Parish ChurchCo. TyroneA curious but effective and reliable 1960s extension organ by Solway Organs of Wigtownshire overhauled and installed.

Research

Do you hold records of an Irish organ?

Specifications, photographs, builders' plates and parish records all help to build the picture. We are always glad to hear from organists, historians and parishes.

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