'Half-muffled' bells ring out in tribute to 'committed' Limerick academic and bell ringer
RESIDENTS in King's Island and the surrounding areas heard the sombre "half-muffled" tones of St Mary's Cathedral bells this Tuesday morning during the funeral service of "expert" bell-ringer and professor, Michael Pomeroy.
Having grown up in Somerset in the UK, Michael is said to have had a great interest in farming from an early age, but then was led into academia where he "excelled in his field."
After moving to Limerick for a job at University of Limerick, Michael rose through the ranks and became Professor of Material Sciences and held a role on the governing council before his retirement.
According to his friend Niall Sloane, Dean of Limerick and Ardfert in the Church of Ireland, Michael's third big passion was bell ringing. "He was instrumental in strengthening the links between the ringers at St Mary's Catherdral and Mount St Alphonsus," he said.
"Bell ringing was his huge love, and it was a testament at his funeral that there was an hour and a half of a ring before the funeral, and at least half an hour after, of ringers across the [King's] island, who came and paid tribute to him."
Niall also mentioned, "there were even rings in other cathedrals and places throughout the country over the last few days."
In a proposal by his colleague Kieron Brislane to nominate Michael as a life member of the Irish Association of Change Ringers (IACR), Kieron wrote, "there are very few people who through the years, have given so much time to the bell ringing on this lovely island of ours."
Having helped raise over €2.5m in projects, including the re-roofing and installation of a heating system in the cathedral, Michael was "deeply involved" at the restoration of St Mary's Cathedral in the 90s and 00s, Niall added. "He is forever associated with that here."
As an individual, Niall continued, "he was diligent, courteous, committed to anything he put his hand to, and always approached things with a good sense of humour. He was upbeat right until the very end."
Michael passed peacefully at Milford Care Centre on March 13, and is regretted by his sisters Lyn and Maureen, brother-in-law Brian, nephew, nieces, extended family, Aileen and close friends.