The Apparitions and Miracles at Knock; also, the Official Depositions of the Eye-witnesses

bo
years, has recovered the power of speech ; Patrick Boyle, of
Glasgow, came to Knock afflicted with heart disease, and re
turned cured ; Michael Marin of Lisakullen, subject to
epileptic fits, visited the shrine, and is now free from their
attacks ; the daughter of R. Walsh of Clifden, regained
sight after bathing her eyes in water containing a piece of
plaster from the chapel wall ; John Roache of Roosky, Ros
common, stone blind for seventeen years, went away able to
see ; John O'Connor of Ardagh, came to Knock with a bent
leg, supported by an iron crutch, and returned home, leaving
the crutch as a memorial of cure ; Owen Halpen, of Meg,
Drogheda, troubled with deafness, placed a bit of the mortar
in his ears, and had the sense fully restored to him. I might
continue these extracts from the archdeacon's records, but
space would fail for a complete setting forth of the alleged
cases of miraculous hearing.
Magic Lantern light not possible in the situation.
Leaving the priest's cottage to view the chapel, and meet
ing at the door a man whose sight, long lost, was said to be
returning, the two priests and myself went up the road
towards the chapel, having the famous gable before us the
whole way. I saw that, for full half its height, it had been
boarded over—a measure necessary, the archdeacon told me,
to protect the wall, since the people, after having removed
the covering of plaster, began to pick the mortar from between
the stones, as, indeed, they are now doing round the corners,
where nothing prevents. My first business was, of course, to
take, as Jack Bunsby would say, " the bearings " of the place.
The chapel is a plain cruciform building, having a tall,
square tower at its west end, and at the opposite extremity a
sacristy. It is on the gable of the sacristy, at the far east of
the building, that the figures are said to have appeared.