Day 24 - Knock and Mercy Day

 Today is September 24th - Mercy Day - and what better way to celebrate it than by paying a visit to the  Knock Shrine in County Mayo.

Knock Basilica

Marie had taken me there last year and the visit was "interesting" to say the least! So it was probably good to return and discover a fresh awareness of what brings thousands of tourists to this place.

We didn't have an early start, as Marie had an appointment in Ennis at 10.45, but we got away soon enough. 

Map from Lahinch to Knock

It was a reasonably long journey, but much of it was on the motorway, which made driving quite easy, with two lanes both ways.

When considering when to stop, of course food was the first consideration! Last year we stopped at Claremorris and we shared a big breakfast. But time was of the essence today and we thought we would not make it in time to Claremorris before the breakfasts were off. So, on Marie's advice, we stopped at Gort and went into Sullivan's Pub for a lovely shared Big Breakfast!

Sullivan's Pub

Shared Big breakfast

Then we were back on our way to Knock.

When we arrived our plan included looking through the multiple shops, buying some bottles to fill with Holy Water, and then attending the Mass at 3 pm in the Basilica. After last year's experience, I decided to skip the Reconciliation Building and head for the shops!!!

The shops were a bit like the buyers and sellers in the Temple!!

Knock Shop

Each of the shops had a saints name!  Different!!!

Windows of a Knock shop

It's a bit like Gattos on steroids!!

Shopping precinct

The next item on the list was to buy some Holy Water bottles and you can fill them from the multiple  taps around the grounds. There were a variety of sizes and shapes, but Holy Water is very big in Knock!

Then you take the bottles to the taps and out comes the Holy Water!!!

Filling the Holy Water bottle

Actually people here in County Clare use Holy Water quite regularly. There is a Holy Water font at the door and everyone blesses themselves with it as they leave the house.

Knock itself is an interesting place and buses were arriving as we did... Here's a few pics to show you..

Knock Chapel

Explanation of Knock

Outdoor  Way of the Cross

Mass at 3 pm was lovely and there was a big crowd there. It also included Sacrament of the Sick, so I rocked up and was anointed. And I prayed for all my friends who are not so well at the moment.

Speaking of such things, this will be my last day in County Clare. Tomorrow I'm going back to Gorey. Bern's brother has not been very well and is going to be admitted to hospital on Friday. So I'll drive over tomorrow and take it from there. At least I know where I'm going now and what the road is like!

So we're all going down to The Atlantic tonight to celebrate my time here, which has been just wonderful. 

And I will raise a glass to my Mercy friends for Mercy Day .... in fact it may be an Irish Coffee glass...!!!

This post comes with a very big thanks to Pat and Marie and Ellen and Patrick, who have just seamlessly added me  into their family life and made me feel so welcome and loved. I will miss them all.

And of course, Daisy the dog.

Slainte - Happy Mercy Day