Chapter 4: Knock Shrine and Roscommon (Sep 3, 2017)
After three full days of hospitality in Ballina, the Crew turned east towards Knock Shrine and Roscommon. Our route brought us first to Knock, one of Ireland’s most famous pilgrimage sites, and then to Roscommon, the last known home of our earliest Donnellan ancestors. This was a day where faith, history, and a few surprises all came together.
Knock Shrine – where visions were seen
Our first stop was the Shrine at Knock in County Mayo. This is where, on a rainy evening in 1879, fifteen villagers claimed to see an apparition of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint John the Evangelist, and a Lamb on an altar on the exterior gable wall of their church. According to the stories, the rain fell on everyone else, but not a single drop touched the vision on the church wall.
The Knock shrine grounds are large, with a central plaza and chapels spread across the site. Pat and Maggie, devoted to visiting churches on this trip, were especially moved. While they admired the plaza, Bill ended up with an unexpected sting, literally. A bee bit him during our visit. Luckily, he was fine and carried on with a smile.
Roscommon – searching for Donnellan roots
By afternoon, we arrived in Roscommon, a town tied closely to our family’s past. We checked into Gleason’s Hotel, recommended by cousin Bruce Donlan, and found it a charming place with a cozy courtyard perfect for an afternoon drink.
Walking into town, we immediately spotted not one but two department stores named Donnellan and Company. For a moment, we thought we had struck gold in the search for relatives. A chat with Julie Donnellan, the daughter of one of the owners, confirmed otherwise. Her family had moved into Roscommon from another area. Still, she mentioned another Donnellan family that had lived there, though sadly that line had died out.
Castle Roscommon
In Roscommon we also visited the ruins of Castle Roscommon, a 13th century fortress with a dramatic history of battles, sieges, and eventual destruction during the Cromwellian wars. Even in ruins, its stone walls still towered above us. For the Crew, it was another reminder that Irish history is written in castles as much as in family records.
Sacred Heart Church
We also explored the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built in 1903. At first we thought it was the church where my great-grandfather John Donnellan was baptized in 1845. Later research showed this was a replacement built decades afterward. Still, standing in that spot, we felt connected to the spiritual thread running through generations.
We even spoke to the parish priest, who agreed to look into baptismal records for us. Genealogical treasure hunts rarely end quickly, but every conversation opens another door.
A pub tale and a policeman named Mike
That evening, back at Gleason’s courtyard, we met an English policeman named Mike who was on holiday with friends. They had a quirky tradition. Each chipped in a thousand pounds, then drew lots for destinations. Each man traveled solo with his prize money, then met later to share stories. Mike was charming company, perhaps too much so with some of the ladies in our Crew, but the laughter flowed as freely as the pints.
What’s next
With Knock and Roscommon behind us, the Crew’s next stop would be the Rock of Cashel and the medieval streets of Kilkenny. The journey was turning into a blend of faith, history, and unexpected friendships, each stop adding its own flavor to the story.
Read more about this trip: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 5, Chapter 6.
Read more stories about Ireland: The Irish Redhead Convention, Top 5 Must-Visit Waterfalls in Ireland, and Irish Inventors: How They Changed the World.
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