Knock, in Irish, An Cnoc, means The Hill – but now the village is more generally known as Cnoc Mhuire, 'Hill of (the Virgin) Mary' and derives its notability from the Knock Shrine, where it is claimed the Virgin Mary, together with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist appeared on August 21st, 1879 at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. This Apparition was witnessed by fifteen people.
From this miraculous occurrence, Knock has grown to the status of an internationally recognised Marian Shrine, alongside Lourdes and Fatima. One and a half million pilgrims visit annually.
The new basilica, Our Lady, Queen of Ireland, built in 1967 can accommodate 10,000 people.
Services are held every hour throughout the day.
The personal pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II in 1979, commemorating the centenary of the Apparition, inspired an even greater devotion to the Shrine and endorsed the indelible seal of Vatican approval. 