Paying 135 years of respect to Knock

With more than 150,000 pilgrims expected to attend the Knock Novena, Micheal Kelly reflects on the enduring draw of the Mayo shrine.

AS Knock Shrine celebrates 135 years since 15 local people reported seeing a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the popularity of the Mayo shrine shows no signs of waning, despite a significant shift in Irish religious habits.

Upwards of 150,000 pilgrims — some of them from overseas — will descend on the small village to celebrate the annual Knock Novena. Annually, the shrine welcomes more than 1m visitors. It’s a curious thing about Knock that even those who don’t attend Mass regularly find something there.