A story of clock restoration.
I have mentioned in my previous musings that there is a musicality to Clonalis if you listen closely….
From the groan of the shutters as I awaken them from their slumber to the morning chorus of birds, to the hum of the heating, the click of a lamp, the crackle of the fire, the clatter of china, the chatter of guests, the bark of a loyal dog, cattle lowing, the river babbling, the crunch of leaves underfoot in the woodland, children singing, the ring of a doorbell, the chime of a clock, the creak of a wooden floor board, the murmur of house as it breathes in and out. All of these sounds are music to my ears each playing a part in making the house as much alive as it was a hundred years ago.
Our guests often tell us that they get a lovely feeling once they pass through the doors of Clonalis, a sense that it’s a family home, a place of warmth, a living place. Looking around Clonalis I see so many loved ones are here already. In portraits, books, textiles and rugs, each object telling a story. If this is true of the objects all around me it is true of the house itself of which we are temporary custodians, with the responsibility to not only preserve them but to honour their history and listen to their whispered wishes. With that in mind, we recently set about restoring three clocks original to Clonalis who were once suspended in time have now become alive and their beauty shining once more.
Each clock needed a lot of time and dedication by a very skilled craftsman who poured a lot of love into their restoration. The Grandfather and grandmother clock predate the 1800’s with both having handmade mechanisms with the Grandfather clock having being restored by Solomon Rombach who was in business in Sligo in the 1850s. The Ansonia clock revealed a little surprise with the words “ The O’Conor Don 15th January 1907” engraved on the pendulum bob most likely done when the clock was purchased. Extensive repair work was done to all clocks from repairs to the pendulum, pivot holes, repair to clocks hands, paint restored on clock faces, repair to veneer and cleaning.
Now fully restored they draw me in, I sometimes take a moment to drink in their music when all is calm… a moment to pause for thought, the past showing up in the present and acting as a portal for the present and the future. Having witnessed the comings and goings of guests and the loyal servitude of the people who kept Clonalis ticking down through the centuries it was my wish that they continued to make their own music, humming their familiar tune. Treasured from one generation to the next. Our home is at the heart of everything we do, it’s a journey of dedication, love and time. Conserving a place filled with stories of tales past, conserving a home through generations of love.
Time is all we have, time in nature, quality time with family and friends. Real quality time requires intention.
Carol-Anne O’Conor Nash
