Knock Shrine, Catholic pilgrimage shrine in Knock, Ireland
Knock Shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site in the small village of Knock in western Ireland, considered one of the most important Marian sanctuaries in the world. The grounds include several church buildings, among them a large basilica and a smaller chapel at the original apparition site, where life-sized figures recreate the reported scene.
On the evening of August 21, 1879, fifteen villagers reported seeing figures of Mary, Joseph and John at the south gable of the small parish church. These reports led the site to become a pilgrimage destination, attracting growing numbers of visitors over the decades and eventually leading to major expansions in the 1970s.
The name Knock comes from the Irish An Cnoc, meaning simply the hill, an everyday term for an extraordinary place. Today people from many countries come here to pray, light candles and attend services offered in several languages.
The grounds are large and open to visitors, with paved paths suitable for wheelchair users. Buses and tour groups use dedicated parking areas nearby, while individual visitors often need a bit more time to find their way around.
The old church wall where the apparition was reported stands protected behind glass panels, forming the core of the small chapel. Visitors can step close and see the unchanged surface of grey stone that has remained in place since that evening in 1879.
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