Hundreds flock to see‘ moving’ statue

September 1985

Hundreds of people have been making their way to the Marian Shrine at Rocklands outside Wexford town, following reports last weekend that the statue was moving.

The nightly pilgrimages to the grotto began on Friday when a number of people reported seeing the eyes of the statue open, and images of Our Lord and St. John appear in front of the face.

Interest in the statue of Our Lady increased steadily over the weekend once news of the sightings spread, and by Sunday night, streams of pilgrims were to be seen making their way down to the Rosslare road to the grotto.

An air of excitement and expectation has surrounded the shrine ever since, with long lines of cars stretching on either side of the road, and crowds of people gathering around waiting to see the statue move.

And as vigils continue, the number of people claiming to have observed movement grows daily.

Dr Brendan Comiskey, in his first public state- ment on the phenomenon, is, however, offering a word of caution to people visiting the grotto.

Re-iterating the advice of Bishop Thomas McDonnell of Killaloe, he said that people may not be aware of what the power of suggestion and expectation can do to the human mind and senses.

But still many people are convinced of what they have ‘seen’. One of the first observers said she saw the eyes of Our Lady flicker, and an image of Our Lord appear on her face. Others say they have seen the image of Pope Pius 10th and St John, but many others report seeing nothing at all.

There have also been unconfirmed reports in the past week that Our Lady appeared to a little boy in Kilmore.