National Shrine of Our Lady of Knock/Church of the Apparition

Frommer's Review

This is Ireland's version of Lourdes, and Catholic pilgrims (mostly Irish Catholic) come here in droves. It all dates from a day in August 1879 when two young local girls said they saw Joseph, Mary, and St. John standing in bright light in front of the southern tower of the parish church. Soon, 13 other witnesses claimed to have seen the same thing, and the Church declared it a miracle. Before long, miracles were occurring fast and furious, as sick and lame visitors claimed to be healed after visits to the church. Knock came to the world's attention in 1979, when Pope John Paul II visited the shrine. There's not much to the town of Knock on the whole -- it sits unspectacularly at the intersection of the N17 and R323 (it's not even on some maps of Ireland, it's so small) -- but it's filled with increasingly large, modern religious structures, including a huge circular basilica seating 7,000 people and containing artifacts or furnishings from every county in Ireland. The grounds also hold a folk museum and a religious bookshop.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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