(Mar. 2) – In the night of December 25th a fire completely destroyed the St. Mel’s cathedral, in the town of Longford, in Ireland. The church, one of the most important of whole Ireland, was damaged for 10 million euros. In the fire also burned the St. Mel’s Crosier, a relic dating from over a thousand years ago, and a pipe organ built in 1982. Two years after that, the Italian firm, Fratelli Ruffatti, has won a tender for the reconstruction of a new pipe organ, for a 450.000 euros contract. “On the basis of the tender submitted- Bishop Com O’Reilly has explained -, the committee recommended that the contract be offered to Fratelli Ruffati on the basis of musicality, design of the organ and value for money. The rebuilding of the organ, the Bishop has concluded, will “include the best expertise available in Ireland”. (Peg)
