Wells-Kennedy

Wells-Kennedy Wells Kennedy is one of Irelands leading and longest established Organ building firms.

08/04/2025

Tickets for the May Concert
'Sounds of the 20th Century'
are now available.

The concert features Greg Lloyd at the Organ, Holywood Sinfonietta and our Parish Choir.

You can buy tickets at this link:
https://holywood-parish-church.sumupstore.com

Looking for inspiration over Easter? Why not go along and support this fabulous work in St Peters next week.
06/04/2025

Looking for inspiration over Easter? Why not go along and support this fabulous work in St Peters next week.

06/04/2025

Calling all budding organists!

06/04/2025
06/04/2025

Don’t forget about our Charity Concert next Thursday, 10th April, at 7pm in Christ Church, Infirmary Road.

To celebrate 50 years of the Cathedral Youth Club, Saint Mary's College School Orchestra and Saint Columb's Cathedral Choristers are joining forces to provide an evening of musical entertainment. These young musicians will be joined by the very talented Anne Marie Hickey and Roisin Rice!

All are welcome and admission is free!

Small but very useful instrument in Ardstraw Presbyterian Church. This organ was installed by Henry Willis and Sons in 1...
18/03/2025

Small but very useful instrument in Ardstraw Presbyterian Church. This organ was installed by Henry Willis and Sons in 1956, moved from another church, and replacing a previous 1st world war memorial organ.

Wells Kennedy refurbished this organ a number of years ago and it continues to be used on a regular basis. Like many of these one manual instruments all but the open diapason stops are within a swell box.

03/03/2025
A photo of the console at St Peters Drogheda before and after restoring the keys, stop tabs and Pedal Board. Work contin...
08/02/2025

A photo of the console at St Peters Drogheda before and after restoring the keys, stop tabs and Pedal Board. Work continues in cleaning and overhauling the interior of the instrument.

Back in December we posted some images of the previously smoke damaged Carrickfergus Congregational Church from 2023. Af...
02/02/2025

Back in December we posted some images of the previously smoke damaged Carrickfergus Congregational Church from 2023. After a year of intense cleaning and rebuilding the Congregation were able to return to their home in December 2024. We have started the process of returning the Organ albeit a new interior. We were however able to restore the casework and display pipes back to their original finish thanks to the painstaking work carried out by Drummond Reid French Polishers and the headscratching and detective work in reconstructing a mountain of bits by Stevie and myself. Thankfully it was all worthwhile and we look forward to rebuilding this instrument along with Henry Groves & Son over the coming months. More photos will be forthcoming as things progress.

Having started this project last year, we are pleased that it is now coming to a close. Having chosen to employ Henry Gr...
02/02/2025

Having started this project last year, we are pleased that it is now coming to a close. Having chosen to employ Henry Groves & Son from Nottingham in association with Wells Kennedy Ltd, All Saints Church Eglantine now has an instrument which will enrich the growing Congregation for years to come. Our thanks go to Reverend Jason Kernohan and the Select Vestry along with Jonathan their Organist for their vision and trust in this project and to everyone who contributed in fundraising. My thanks also to Jonathan Wallace (Director) Henry Groves & Son for inviting us to be part of this project and to contribute in the overall construction and finishing.

Wells Kennedy remain the oldest organ building company in Northern Ireland and that is due to the trust and support of y...
09/12/2024

Wells Kennedy remain the oldest organ building company in Northern Ireland and that is due to the trust and support of you its customers.
We still remain the only company within this province who hold accreditation with the Institute of British Organ building (IBO) to carry out work in the fields of Tuning & Maintenance and Cleaning & Overhaul, and by working alongside other accredited companies we have expanded our field of work to include rebuilds and new instruments in an ever decreasing trade.
This past year has seen a busy schedule of work with the completion of
St Philip & St James Holywood (Rebuild) with H Groves & Son.
Holywood Methodist (Water damage to soundboard)
St Columb's Waterside ( Cleaning and Overhaul)
Glendermot Parish ( Cleaning & Overhaul of Great Soundboard and Pedal chests and electrics)
St Marks Dundela ( Installation of new blower)
Trinity Presbyterian Omagh ( New Trumpet chest and revoicing)
St Brigids Derryvolgie ( Cleaning & Overhaul)
Aghalee Parish ( Installation of refurbished Pedal Bourdon)
Dungannon 1st Pres ( Rewiring and replacement swell machine)
Ongoing work continues in
Eglantine Parish Church (New instrument) H Groves & Son. Carrickfergus Congregational ( New Instrument) H Groves & Son.
St Peters COI Drogheda (Cleaning & Overhaul)
St Patricks Downpatrick ( New blower plus action overhaul)

At this time of rebirth and celebration we would like to wish all our customers past, present and new a very Happy Christmas and New Year from Stewart, Stevie, and myself.

Unfortunately due to a smoldering fire which thankfully smothered itself, Carrickfergus Congregational Church was saved ...
05/12/2024

Unfortunately due to a smoldering fire which thankfully smothered itself, Carrickfergus Congregational Church was saved from becoming a ruin. All of the interior furnishings including the Organ were severely damaged or contaminated with smoke. After a year of painstaking refurbishment the building is getting ready to reopen its doors. The organ interior was unable to be saved but the casework and display pipes were able to be saved and restored to their former finish. We are very proud to be involved in this project and continue to work on getting the rebuilt organ back to working order in the new year.
Hopefully Christmas will be a time of rebirth for this lovely Church and its congregation.

20/11/2024

Coming soon: Northern Ireland’s only performance of Handel’s Messiah with period instruments, intimate but powerful vocal forces, and all performed in an historically informed, exciting, and highly acclaimed way.

It is just over a fortnight away and tickets are selling quickly. Join a stellar line up of soloists alongside The Ulster Consort and Players, conducted by Matthew Owens, in St. Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen (Friday 6 December) or Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast (Saturday 7 December).

Tickets are available at the door but advanced booking is advised:

Enniskillen: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/messiah-enniskillen-tickets-777747522777

Belfast: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/messiah-belfast-tickets-777756609957

Very happy to be working with the Rector and Select Vestry of St Peters Church of Ireland Drogheda in the Cleaning and O...
22/10/2024

Very happy to be working with the Rector and Select Vestry of St Peters Church of Ireland Drogheda in the Cleaning and Overhaul of this Historic Snetzler Organ dating from 1770 before being enlarged by Peter Conacher in 1934.

Address

Unit 25 LEDCOM Business Park, 100 Bank Road
Larne
BT403AW

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+447843227652

Website

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Videos

May day steam rally prepared, tin helmets to the ready and ear plugs tested.

Always great to return to the Maiden City. Even though the Organ is suffering from general wear and tare it still makes a great sound in the hands of its resident organist and colleague Stewart Smith. Thank you to the Guildhall staff for the coffee and hospitality as always.

Woodworm ventilation.
Woodworm ventilation.

When your customer asks if they have a problem.

Support our National Trust.
Support our National Trust.

The Argory Organ played and demonstrated without the barrel in operation.

Argory Barrell Organ
Argory Barrell Organ

Here is the barrell mechanism working on the Argory Organ

Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn

Todays visit was to the Iconic Ulster Hall. Once the hub for so many memorable concerts and Organ recitals given by so many famous recitalists but alas no more. It is however being used by BBC next month for a few pieces including organ hence the need to visit and assess how the Grand old Lady has faired after lockdown. Couldn't have done it without Stewart who put it through its paces just because he can. Lol

Bach: O mensch bewein.
Bach: O mensch bewein.

The Organ boasts so many colours available to cover both the Liturgical requirements and recital repertoire that it became a favourite teaching instrument for all those budding organists who wished to learn without the aid of thumb and toe pistons or sequencers.

The Guildhall with Stewart Smith
The Guildhall with Stewart Smith

Restored HNB drawstop machine.
Restored HNB drawstop machine.

Many thanks to Mark for all his hard work and skill in restoring the first set of drawstop machine motors for 1st Lisburn Presbyterian Church and a big thank you to Stevie Prosser for assisting me in reinstating them back into the Organ and removing the Great. This short video shows how the machine is meant to work when a drawstop is activated.

Boys and their toys!!
Boys and their toys!!

After missing out so many times with David, Stewart got his chance to get acquainted with one of Wells Kennedy jewels. So much so it was hard to drag him away. Lol

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