When Ballinspittle's moving stature captured the world's imagination

In July 1985, the world turned its focus on the Cork town of Ballinspittle, where many believed they'd seen a statue of Our Lady moving

Archive picture of a statue of the Virgin Mary which is said to have moved spontaneously in Ballinspittle in 1985.

In the early days of July 1985, it looked like another ordinary Irish summer was afoot — misty weeks punctuated with periods of sunshine. 

Ireland had beaten Scotland at Murrayfield, Wales at Cardiff and England at Lansdowne Road to finally win the Triple Crown.