An apparition of the Virgin Mary resulted in a tourist boom for Knock. The
apparition of the Virgin, accompanied by St Joseph and St John, occurred on August 21, 1879. The scene of the apparition has become so popular that more than a million tourists annually visit the
Marian Shrine
at Knock.
Nearby is the
Knock Folk Museum, famous for its depiction of Irish life in the 1800s.
The museum has an extensive photographic display. If you're researching
your Irish genealogy, the Knock Folk Museum is well worth visiting.
County Mayo's history is on display at many locations, with stone circles near Killala a continuing reminder of ancient rituals. Bronze and gold artefacts found in County Mayo have been dated to about 1500BC. Scientists have uncovered evidence of farming activity at Ceide Fields dating back almost 6000 years.
