Culture

In a Word ... Knock

A phone tapper toppled

Memorabilia on sale in Knock before Pope Francis's visit in 2018. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Patsy McGarry's face
Patsy McGarry
Sat Aug 12 2023 - 00:30

Knock is a wonder of the western world, certainly of the west of Ireland. One of the most visited places in the State, it receives an average of 1.5 million pilgrims/tourists annually, particularly in August when the national novena takes place. This year that starts next Monday, continuing to August 22nd – with August 21st being the 144th anniversary of apparitions there in 1879.

Those took place over a two-hour period on a wet Thursday evening when 15 local people saw the Virgin Mary with St Joseph to her right, St John to her left and, behind them on a plain altar, a cross with a lamb surrounded by angels. Church inquiries in 1879 and 1936 concluded that “the testimony of the witnesses, taken as a whole, was trustworthy and satisfactory”.

Regardless, whether the apparitions ever took place is a matter of faith. Over to you. What is not in dispute is that Knock has brought about miracles, including an international airport, visits by two popes – John Paul II in 1979 and Francis in 2018 -, Mother Teresa in 1993 and a sitting US President last April, when Joe Biden dropped by.

I’ve been there many times, usually in the line of work. One such occasion was in 1989 when I was charged by the Irish Press (RIP) with covering the European Parliament campaign of former minister for justice Seán Doherty (RIP). He was standing for both the Dáil and European Parliament in combined elections that year.

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In 1982 the former minister had ordered that journalist Bruce Arnold’s phone be tapped. Prior to the 1987 general election Mr Arnold wrote an open letter to the people of Roscommon asking them to vote for anyone but Doherty. Doherty topped the poll. No one tells Roscommon voters what to do.

[ Background: Justice minister Seán Doherty initiated tapping of reporters ]

On his European campaign in 1989 Doherty visited Knock, where he was initially tentative with a group of elderly ladies there. He inquired whether they were on “a pilgrimage holiday”. They were. He hoped they were enjoying it. They were. Relaxing, he told them, “sure, I’ve been in Knock more times myself than the Virgin Mary”. How the ladies laughed! He, however, failed to be elected as either a TD or MEP.

Whatever about journalists, you don’t mess with the Virgin Mary!

Knock, from the Gaeilge `cnoc’, for `hill’.

inaword@irishtimes.com

Mayo