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Jan
10
Knock Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Ireland
A trip to Knock
The small, rural town of Knock is located on Ireland’s west coast and is also known as the ‘Irish Lourdes’. The town’s major highlight is the Knock Shrine, making this place a renowned pilgrim destination that draws thousands of people every year. Apart from religious relics, there is not much to see here, though the surrounding landscape and rich archaeological countryside make Knock well-worth visiting. A nearby airport offers links to London for weekend breaks.
Flights to Knock
Situated 10 miles northeast of the town, Knock International Airport is the sole international air facility that connects Ireland’s west and northwest to the UK and several European and intercontinental destinations. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Knock try
Ebookers. Airlines serving the airport are British Airways, Lufthansa, and Ryanair, to name a few. Handling a throughput of approximately 250,000 passengers per year, Knock Airport is well equipped with passenger amenities.
Astoundingly, the airport is not directly connected to the town of Knock by public transport therefore you will either have to use the shuttle bus service to Charlestown, situated three miles to the north, or take one of the readily available taxis.
To get around town, a car is not needed as everything here is can be easily reached on foot. However, if you wish to explore the surrounding area with its many spread out attractions, a car is recommended because public transport can be infrequent and unreliable.
Knock
Sightseeing in Knock
When 15 people experienced a vision of Mary, St Joseph and John the Baptist here in 1879, Knock was made famous. The area the vision was seen at was marked with the Knock Shrine and has been a place of pilgrimage for Catholics all over the globe since. Catholics consider the shrine as one of the most important confirmations of their faith, with even the pope having come here in 1979.
The Knock Folk Museum records the story of the apparition with some artefacts relating to the vision and its associated miracles. A further place of interest is the colossal Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland, which was opened in 1976 and has space for up to 12,000 people.
Fun by night - eating, drinking and partying
Knock is not renowned for its cuisine and entertainment, partly because the majority of visitors spend just a short time here and the town typically accommodates a large number of pilgrims. As there is a limited choice of restaurants, it is a good option to eat in one of the local pubs that provide bar meals, known as ‘pub grub’, and lunches as well as homemade soups and sandwiches. Some of the pubs serve a la carte menus in the evening.
Irish fare has high meat content and is mostly fried or roasted, which can turn out to be a little monotonous after a while. However, the meat is generally of good quality, particularly the steak and lamb. Essential national drinks well worth sampling are the diverse Irish whiskies including Old Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, Jameson’s and John Powers, while the world-famous Guinness can be found everywhere.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
The only shopping facilities that might be interesting to visitors are the souvenir shops at the Knock Shrine and Folk Museum. If kitsch religious tack is your things, you’ll find many gaudy collectables here. When travelling to other regions, keep an eye open for hand-woven tweed, crocheted cottons and woollens, as well as sheepskin goods and Irish crystal.
Daytrips
Knock is beautifully situated for getting out and seeing some fine Irish countryside, most of which is easily accessed by road. The nearby historic town of Appleby makes for a lovely day out, boasting a number of walking trails suitable for hikers of all abilities.
The Foxford Woollen Mills are home to two art galleries, a jewellery workshop and an excellent gift shop. Visitors can watch intricate jewellery as it is made and order any piece they like. All paintings in one of the galleries are for sale.
For fabulous views of the south Mayo countryside, head for Crough Patrick and its information centre which tells of the importance of the area in early Christian times. An ancient place of pilgrimage dates back to between 430 and 900 AD and the fantastic centre explains local history in a manner that is accessible to all.
Must-see attractions
Knock is not exactly brimming with attractions but those that exist tend to be religious and are well worth a look. On the site where the apparitions were seen in the 1890s lies the Church of the Apparition where a carving of the vision can be seen. The impressive Ballintubber Abbey, with its 13th and 15th century features, is one of Ireland’s best loved churches and is worth a visit if you appreciate architecture.
Founded for Saxon monks, the Mayo Abbey lies in the plains of Mayo, surrounded by ancient walls and charming rural land. Visitors can arrange in advance to have a guided tour of the monastery and watch a video discussing the abbey’s past and its present condition.
Best time to go
Knock tends to be at its mildest between early May and October, with the spring months being the driest. The winter months can be cool and damp meaning you will need some warm clothes if you want to sightsee at this time. The busiest months of June, July and August offer the best weather.
Each August the anniversary of the first apparition takes place, with thousands of pilgrims arriving to take part in two days of celebrations, including a beautiful candlelight procession. This is a wonderful time to visit Knock even if you are not a believer.
Rainy day suggestions
Ireland is used to seeing a lot of rain and so most of Knock’s attractions are indoor ones. An interesting museum at Kiltimagh documents how the area’s poverty was transformed into a thriving community in days gone by. Other interesting attractions that can easily be reached by car include the Mayo North Heritage Centre and the Michael Davitt Museum, located inside a beautifully restored church.
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