Cormac O’Cuinn, Campanologist achieves Gaisce Bronze Award via Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

Gaisce – The President’s Award is Ireland’s national youth award and is a personal development programme for young people aged 14-25. It is a direct challenge from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, to all young people to dream big and fulfil their potential. In 2025 Gaisce celebrates its 40th Anniversary.  The Cathedral Community Officer, Kelley Bermingham, has been a President Award Leader (PAL) and has signed off on elements of candidates Gaisce portfolios since commencing the collaboration with the Cathedral as a Gaisce Award Partner.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our youngest bellringer has successfully attained his Gaisce Bronze Award with the entirety of his activities in four specific areas signed off by the Cathedral.

Cormac is a member of the Society of Bell Ringers Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, the Irish Association of Change Ringers, and a non-resident member of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers, the Liverpool Branch.

Bronze Award Challenge Areas:

Cormac dedicated a minimum of 1 hour per week for 13 weeks to each main Challenge Area;

• Personal Skill: Quarter Peel Attempt – preparation and practice culminating in the peel attempt from March 2025 to May 2025. A Quarter Peal Attempt involves continuous change ringing for 50minutes
• Community Involvement: In 2023, Cormac developed his bellringing capabilities in the Minot Tower with the team of volunteers, led by the Ringing Master Robert MacDonald and Tower Captain Derek McEndoo.
• Physical Recreation: Legacy Taekwondo, Drogheda – weekly classes from October 2023 to February 2024
• Additional weeks of a challenge area: Cormac undertook a series of bellringing storytelling videos which are available on his YouTube account ‘The Drogheda Bellringer’.  Cormac’s work featured in the Drogheda ‘Jumpcut’ Film Festival and received a special mention in the Junior Programme.

Bronze Adventure Journey: Cormac went on a tour of bell towers across northwest England in summer 2025 across 4&½ days including participation in the Northwest Ringing Course held at the historically significant Borwick Hall, Carnforth, Lancaster. The duration exceeded the minimum required but is demonstrative of the commitment that Cormac has made to pursuing his achievements.

Cormac has already set out rough plans of how he will attain his Silver Award, and we are planning a youth adventure journey in 2026.  Silver involves each challenge area set out as in Bronze, and requires a minimum participation of 1 hour per week for 26 weeks. The Adventure Journey takes place over a minimum of 3 days and 2 nights.

Young people with an interest in exploration of bellringing in specific locations, especially the adventure journey are invited to engage with Cormac and Kelley to progress their Gaisce award. For anyone interested in participating in Gaisce, or a joint award with the Duke of Edinburgh Award via the Cathedral, can email community@stpatrickscathedral.ie A meeting can be set up to discuss and plan your Gaisce level and challenge areas (virtual or in-person).