Even the progress of pilgrims was hindered by yesterday's travel disruptions, with Busaras having to deal with extra passengers due to the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA) dispute.
Returning from a pilgrimage to Knock were three cousins, Ms Kathleen Coogan, Ms Margaret Gallagher and Ms Frances Purcell, who usually make their annual trip by train. The women travelled by bus from Knock and were waiting for a connection to Wicklow.
"It's lovely getting the train to Knock and back. You can get up and walk around and get a cup of tea, or whatever, but today we just had a 10-minute stop at Athlone and we didn't have time to bless ourselves."
Ms Gallagher said the dispute had ruined their three-day break. "It's disgraceful really. We go every year and this disruption has spoiled our trip."
Ms Mabel Hill from Castle blayney, Co Monaghan, who had been on holiday in Killarney, was returning to attend a funeral.
"I got the train from Killarney to Mallow, and then had a long wait for the train from Mallow to Dublin. The delays between one train and the other are terrible," she said.
Mr Patrick Brown, from Dublin, who takes the bus to Co Meath every weekend, said the rail strike should not have been allowed to continue for so long.
"This shouldn't have happened on a bank holiday because it's very unfair to the public. They should try and sort it out someway," he said.
At Heuston Station about 10 ILDA workers had been holding a picket from 6.00 a.m. "This will go on for as long as it takes the powers that be to speak to and face the concerns of the drivers. We have heard all their moral lectures and we are going to stay here as long as it takes," said Mr Hugh McCarthy. Inside the station, Mr Terry Byrne, from Drimnagh, who was waiting for his sister-in-law and her husband, whose train from Cork was delayed, said he supported the ILDA drivers.
"I would agree with them because I think they should have been consulted about their agreement. I can put up with the delay in support of them. No matter who goes on strike they are going to inconvenience someone," he said.
However, Ms Sarah Finnerty, who travels to Castlerea, Co Roscommon, every weekend, was angry.
"It's a nuisance really because it's costing me more money - £9 extra a week. I can go as far as Athlone on the train and then I have to get out and get a bus to Castlerea. I think it's awful. It takes three-and-a-half hours to get home when it used to take two-and-a-half."
Trains to Westport, Cork, Tralee, Limerick and Waterford were affected, but staff in Heuston Station said they would provide the services promised for the bank holiday weekend.