Ballintubber Abbey

About seven miles south of Castlebar, lies a village called Ballintubber. Ballintubber`s history goes back to pre-Christian times, people came from the east through Ballintubber on their way to the holy mountain on the west coast - now called Croagh Patrick. When St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in c.441AD, he founded a church at Ballintubber. The present Abbey was founded in 1216 by King Cathal O`Conor. It is the only church in Ireland still in daily use that was founded by an Irish king.

The abbey marks the beginning of Tochar Phádraig, the ancient pilgrimage route to Croagh Patrick, long defunct but now reopened as a cross-country pilgrimage and tourist trail. Tóchar Phádraig predates Patrick. It was probably built around 350 A.D., and was the main route from Rath Cruachan, the seat of the kings of Connacht, to Cruachán Aigle, the mountain sacred to our pagan ancestors. Since Patrick`s time, 441 A.D., it became a Christian pilgrim route and was known as Tóchar Phádraig or Patrick`s Causeway.

The abbey has several modern outdoor attractions, including a very modern abstract Way of the Cross, an underground permanent Crib, and a Rosary Way. There is a small museum. According to the Ballintubber website, Seán na Sagart, the infamous priest-hunter, is buried in the cemetery. A large tree marks the spot. Open Daily 9am - 12 midnight.

Knock Shrine

Knock Shrine is an international place of prayer and pilgrimage visited by over one and a half million people every year. The story of Knock dates back to the 21st of August 1879 when fifteen people from the village witnessed an apparition of Our Lady, St Joseph, St John the Evangelist, an altar, cross and lamb. Following this miraculous event, numerous cures were reported, the first being that of Delia Gordon, a young girl from the neighboringtown of Claremorris who was cured of deafness. Since then pilgrims have come to Knock in search of healing, reconciliation and peace. The personal pilgrimage of Pope John Paul 11 in 1979 to commemorate the centenary of the apparition and the visit of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1993 inspired an even greater devotion to the shrine.

Today Knock Shrine is set in one hundred acres of beautiful landscaped gardens with meandering pathways and a diverse range of flowers, shrubs and trees. The complex incorporates five churches including the apparition chapel, parish church and basilica, a religious books center, caravan and camping park, Knock Museum, Café le Chéile and Knock House Hotel. Services at the shrine include organized pilgrimages, daily masses and confessions, anointing of the sick, counseling service, prayer guidance and youth ministry. The Knock Novena runs in August every year. Knock Shrine is situated on the N17 mid-way between Galway and Sligo.