A PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK | | Adrian uncovers his Irish catholic heritage |
Although Adrian Goldberg's father is Jewish; his Irish mother raised him as a catholic. Adrian made the pilgrimage to Knock with Catholics from Yardley in Birmingham, and revisited his Irish Catholic roots. With a considerable population of Irish people living in the West Midlands, it was only a matter of time before direct flights opened up between Birmingham and Ireland's pilgrimage capital, Knock. Two low cost airlines ensure that daily flights are available from Birmingham to Knock in County Mayo. | "We have experienced a 55% increase in passenger growth for the first nine months of 2004" | | Liam Scollan, Chief Executive, Knock International Airport |
Not only is this a direct route for pilgrims visiting Knock's world famous Marian Shrine, it is also a lot easier to visit friends and family, and holiday in the west of Ireland. Since March 2003, nearly 150,000 people have flown from Birmingham to Knock. The journey Father Sean Grady and other religious pilgrims are making the journey to Knock. | The Miracle | - The Story of Knock began on August 21, 1879 when Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist appeared at the south gable of Knock Parish Church
- The apparition was witnessed by fifteen people, young and old
- From this miraculous occurrence Knock has grown to the status of an internationally recognised Marian Shrine
- The personal pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II in 1979, commemorated the centenary of the apparition
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited the Shrine in June, 1993
- 1.5m pilgrims visit the Shrine each year
- Knock Shrine is open all year.
Main Pilgrimage Season - last Sunday in April until the Second Sunday in October
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Broadcaster, Adrian Goldberg joins Father Sean Grady and a party of pilgrims from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Yardley. The flight takes 75 minutes and Adrian Goldberg soon arrives at the hotel where he mingles with the other guests. The pilgrims' tour It is Adrian's first morning in Knock, and its not long before the pilgrimage begins in earnest. With his fellow travellers from the West Midlands, Adrian Goldberg is off for a tour of the local chapels and monuments With two priests on the bus, the pilgrims first duty is morning prayers with Father Sean Grady. Out of the bus windows are views of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's most holy mountain.  | | Croagh Patrick is a holy shrine |
It is claimed that St. Patrick stood on Croagh Patrick when he banished all the snakes from Ireland. Irish famine When the party reaches The National Famine Monument Adrian suddenly feels a stirring of his family heritage. The "Coffin Ship" is made up of bronze skeleton bodies and commemorates the anniversary of the Irish Famine 150 years ago, when the population declined from 8m to 4m. Back on the bus, and off to Ireland's only royal abbey, Ballintubber. | Traditional stations to be performed by the pilgrim | - Visit to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
- Stations of the Cross. These can be performed outside, near the Shrine or on the Knock Shrine Calvary
- Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious. Traditionally they are performed while the pilgrim walks around the Church anticlockwise
- Litany of the Blessed Virgin followed by the Prayer to Our Lady of Knock
- Visit to the Blessed Sacrament - in any of the Chapels, where the Creed and the prayer to Christ the King is recited
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The Abbey marks the start of the ancient route, where many pilgrims begin a barefoot walk down the path to the top of Crough Patrick. The group are not undertaking the barefoot walk, they are at Ballintubber for the first service of the weekend. The sacrament Taking the sacrament is the most holy part of the Catholic faith, people believe that the body and the blood is present in the wine and the bread. After the short service, Adrian goes with the rest of the group on a boat journey down Ireland's only Fjord at Killary.  | | Father Sean Grady: Closer to God on the boat journey |
Father Sean's philosophy is that: "When you come to a place like this, you are closer to nature and when you are closer to nature you are closer to God." Only here for the beer? The pilgrims next stop is the pub. As the Guinness is poured, Adrian asks fellow pilgrim Liam, "How are you finding it so far?" "Great" Liam replies. "And my brothers are coming to the hotel tonight for a Saturday night 'knees up'".  | | My brothers are coming to the hotel for a Saturday night 'knees up' | | Liam |
The cheap flights from Birmingham have brought new life to this part of Ireland. The catholic pilgrimages bring large sums into the regional economy. The reason So to Sunday, the most holy day and the busiest day of the week in Knock. So, what exactly are people here to see and do? Well, it all started nearly 130 years ago when there was a silent apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist. The vision was apparently seen next to the wall of the old church. Pilgrims come from all over the world to lay their hands on the church wall.  | | The act of communion |
The amazing thing was that the vision lasted for two hours and was witnessed by 15 people. Large congregation There can be up to 5,000 pilgrims attending one of the five services that take place here on a Sunday. Adrian sits next to Josie who has saved him a seat in the full church. What do people get from this experience?  | | The Cross in procession |
Most say an inner peace. It certainly looks impressive from the outside. A giant Virgin Mary figure is carried into the church. The priests carry out the very visual and moving practice of laying on of hands. Only those who are genuinely ill or infirm are supposed to accept the anointing. Humbling experience | Programme of ceremonies and devotions | - Seven public Masses each day
- Confessions from 11.00am onwards
- Public Devotions: Weekdays 2.15pm Sundays 2.30 pm
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Besides being very humbling, this makes Adrian think deeply about the value of life. When the service is over, it is time to head for the souvenir shop. Adrian is after Holy Water that has been blessed by the priest. He has to take some home for his mother.  | | Holy water for Mum |
As the Pilgrimage draws to a close Adrian Goldberg heads back on his own to this great basilica to absorb some of the tranquillity and peace. "Cheap flights might have got themselves a reputation for rowdy stag parties and boozy trips to Spain. "But as I have found out this weekend, they can serve a spiritual purpose too." | 
Inside Out - West Midlands: Monday January 17, 2005