The Apparition, at Knock, Co. Mayo occurred on August 21st 1879 and was witnessed by 15 local people. This event put Ireland and Co. Mayo on the International map forever.

One hundred and twenty five years ago Knock, was an unknown Irish village. One of the local families living in the village at that time was the Beirne family. Mrs Margaret Beirne was a widow and she and her daughter Mary had just returned from a visit to another part of the county on that eventful day in August 1879.

Neighbours and family called to welcome them home. One of those who visited that day was Mary McLoughlin, who was the parish priest’s housekeeper. When she was leaving, Mary Beirne walked out the narrow roadway with her chatting as they went. It was about 8pm and although it was raining the evening was still bright.

As they approached the church Mary Beirne noticed what she thought was a number of statues outside the church. Then they noticed that the images were moving and were not, in fact, statues.

Mary dashed back to her family home to summon other members of the Beirne household. Her mother Margaret, her brother Dominick and sister Margaret went back with her to the church. Others arrived having noticed the extremely bright light shinning from the direction of the church. One man working in the fields a half mile away reported that he had seen the light. In total 15 people of all ages ranging from the very young to the elderly witnessed the event.

They distinctly beheld the Blessed Virgin Mary, life size, standing about two feet or so above the ground, clothed in white robes. Her hands were raised to the level of the shoulder, with the palms facing one another and slanting inwards towards her face. She appeared to be praying and her eyes were turned towards heaven. She wore what appeared to be a brilliant golden coloured crown on her head.

To the right of the Blessed Virgin was St Joseph. His head was bent from the shoulders forward, his hands were joined and his robes were also white. Another figure also stood to the left of Our Lady, this figure being dressed like a bishop and on his head he wore a small mitre. In his left hand he had a Missal or book. He appeared to be preaching although he did not speak.

Margaret Beirne, thought this was St John the Evangelist. St John’s hand was turned towards an altar which was plain and white and on which stood a lamb.

The figures were full and round, life size and lifelike. A striking aspect of the apparition was the extraordinary light, which did not resemble any light ever seen by the witnesses. It was exceedingly brilliant and covered most of the gable from the ground to the window and higher. Although it was raining heavily the area of the gable wall including the ground remained dry.

When news of the Apparition spread, thousands of pilgrims flocked to Knock with their sick. The first recorded miracle took place ten days after the Apparition. A twelve-year-old girl was cured of deafness when her mother rubbed the cement from the gable wall on to her ears. In a short time the pilgrims stripped the gable wall of its cement to such an extent that it had to be protected by covering it with boards.

Today, almost 1.5 million visit the Marian shrine annually. The personal pilgrimage of Pope John Paul in 1979 commemorating the centenary of the Apparition, inspired an even greater devotion to the shrine and endorsed the indelible seal of Vatican approval.

A number of commissions were set up to enquire into the reported Apparition. All witnesses were examined and the commissions, stated that the testimony of all, taken as a whole was trustworthy and satisfactory.

Three witnesses who gave evidence to the original commission of enquiry survived to give evidence in the final commission of enquiry in 1935. They included Mary O’Connell, formerly Beirne, Patrick Beirne, and John Curry. It was the last year of Mary O’Connell’s life. Her statement made in January 1936 was striking. She said: “I am clear about everything I have said and I make this statement knowing I am going before my God.” On the 19th of October she died at the age of 86.

Mary Beirne married James O’Connell and had six children, five boys and a girl. Her daughter was Marian and she in turn married Patrick Ralph.

Marian and Patrick had eleven children, one of whom was Sean Ralph who now lives in Claremont Park, Sandymount, with his wife Margaret (Peggy). Sean and Peggy have eight children, six of whom now live in Chicago, USA.

Their two sons who chose to remain in Ireland are Kevin, who is married to Bernie and lives in Ringsend and William (Bill) who lives with his wife Celine and their two sons in Irishtown.

Above, photo of Mary Beirne O’Connell and left, Sean Ralph, with his sons Kevin and William (Bill), with Bill’s children William and Michael.