Blessing of the oratory in Knock in 1940
By Tom Gillespie
FOUR thousand people from many counties stood in drenching rain at Our Lady’s Shrine at Knock on Sunday, May 5, 1940, and prayed for peace.
It was the first pilgrimage of the year, and the main body of pilgrims came from the Archdiocese of Tuam.
The Connaught Telegraph reported that Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Walsh, Archbishop of Tuam, and Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Morrisroe, Bishop of Achonry, were present.
The report set out:
'Two special trains brought 1,000 pilgrims from Dublin and Bray, and buses conveyed parties from Donegal, Cavan, Sligo, Galway, Meath, Waterford and Cork.
'The Cork pilgrims, who numbered about 30, met on Saturday night at the shrine.
'Hundreds of people arrived by motor car and large numbers made the pilgrimage by bicycle and on foot from all parts of Mayo.
'The rain did not rob the ceremony of any of its impressiveness when Most Rev. Dr. Walsh blessed and dedicated the new glass-screened Oratory of Our Lady, with its altar of Irish marble, which had been erected at the gable wall of the parish church.
'Although Knock still retains its quiet village atmosphere, great plans are in hand to equip it with all the amenities that the thousands of pilgrims require for their comfort and accommodation.
'On the occasion of a big pilgrimage such as Sunday’s, the village atmosphere is lost in the great gathering at the shrine. Buses and motor cars are parked in adjoining fields, flags fly from the church, there is a constant murmur of prayers being recited in the open and loud-speakers broadcasting hymns to Our Lady.
'The centrepiece of the shrine will be the new oratory. It is a beautiful piece of work. It consists of a flat concrete roof with domed lights, supported on two slender steel columns.
'In front, facing towards the congregation, a series of sliding bronze glassed doors are installed, and these can be moved back parallel with the side walls, so as to leave the whole front completely open.
'The oratory is lined with Irish white marble and the altar is constructed of Irish marble.
'The body of the altar is in white marble, with gold mosaic stars. The tabernacle in is Connemara green with gilded doors.'
In reporting on such occasions it was mandatory for the reporter covering the event to list the names of all the clergy in attendance.
My late uncle, Bernie Gillespie, probably wrote this report in 1940. When I joined The Connaught Telegraph in August 1968, I accompanied him to many religious ceremonies such as church openings and the funerals of well-known people.
He carried a jotter and a pencil and the common and accepted practice was to pass the jotter and pencil to the clergyman at the front on which he wrote his name and then passed it on until all the names had been recorded. And Bernie would retrieve it from the last signatory.
As times changed this journalistic practice ceased with the names of the main clergy being recorded, these being supplied by the Catholic Press Office.
On that Sunday in May 1940, Bernie recorded the names of the clergy present. They were: Very Rev. F. McDermott, P.P., Ballyhaunis; Very Rev. T.J. Gunnigan, President, St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam; Very Rev. P. Waldron, P.P., Kilkerran; Very Rev. T.J. Waters, P.P., Can, Roscommon; Very Rev. P.J. Moane, P.P., Bekan; Very Rev. M. Carney, P.P., Aghamore; Rev. T. Morrin, C.C., Swinford; Rev. T. Tallon, C.C., Clonmellon; Rev. P. Kelly, C.C., Claremorris; Rev. M. Curley, C.C., Glenamaddy; Rev. J. Jennings, C.C., Westport; Rev. P.J. Gaffney, C.C., Oran; Rev. FatherAlfred Clarke, O.F.M., Waterford; Rev. Bro. Gerald. O.F.F., do.; Rev. F. Fullen, O.S.Sp., Kimmage, Dublin; Rev. Dr. P. O’Carroll, C.S.Sp., do.; Rev. E. Ryan, C.S.Sp., do.; Rev. F.A, Gleeson, C.C., Director of Bray Pilgrimage; Rev. J. Kelleher, do.; and Rev. A. Walshe, Clonmel.
The high altar, steps, floor and wall panelling were executed in Irish marble and stone by Messers. C.W. Harrison and Sons, 178, Pearse Street, Dublin.
In the preceding 83 years Knock Shrine has seen a huge transformation. In 1973 Archbishop Joseph Cunnane turned the first sod for the new basilica, a project which was overseen by the then parish priest of the Marian shrine, James Horan.
Two years later work on the 5,000-seater basilica, which covers an acre of ground, was blessed and dedicated by Cardinal William Conway.
Since then, of course, Parish Priest Fr. Richard Gibbons has overseen massive changes and upgrading of facilities at the shrine.
The visit of two Popes to Knock has been the highlights of my journalistic career.
On September 30, 1979, Pope John Paul II helicoptered into the shrine on what he described as ‘the goal of my journey to Ireland’.
Prior to his arrival months of improvements were undertaken by Mayo County Council in modernising the village and removing its ‘shanty town like’ image.
Thousands of pilgrims crowded into Knock from early morning to see the Holy Father.
Then on Sunday, August 26, 2018, Pope Francis touched down at Ireland West Airport and made his way to Knock where he was welcomed by parish priest Fr. Richard Gibbons, and thousands of pilgrims, though not as many as had gathered for the visit of Pope John Paul II.
Unlike the May 1940 pilgrimage, those travelling to the shrine today can avail of all the modern comforts of the 21st century. While there is extensive parking you won’t see many bicycles about.