Knock Shrine

“Lamb on a gable?”

Knock Shrine. You’re standing in County Mayo, right? In 1879, locals swear they saw the Virgin, St Joseph, and Jesus as a Lamb up on the gable. No one moved. They just watched. The story goes the light burned for days without melting the wax. I’m not saying I believe every word, but the silence is heavy. You see the statues now, weathered by Mayo rain. It’s quiet. Too quiet, maybe. If you hear a hum, it’s not the generators. It’s just you being dramatic. But hey, the history is rock solid, even if my knees aren't.

Photo: Paul Cowan, CC BY-SA 2.0

Then Tom went looking for the oddest places around it.

Stop 2 · Hop back in the car, 10 minutes

Ballinsmaula Abbey

“Donkey won. Harp lost.”

Ballinsmaula Abbey is where a priest lost a bet involving a donkey and a harp. The Carmelites probably laughed it off, but the stones remember every single word. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.

What the record says

Recorded as: Religious house — Carmelite friars. What survives: Recorded monument.

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record MA101-028001

Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0

More about Ballinsmaula Abbey →

Stop 3 · 15 minutes down the road

Indicated

“Rabbits judge the architecture.”

House in Island is currently being judged by rabbits who think its gunloops are just fancy holes for them to hide in. They’re not wrong, actually. Get there early and have it all to yourself.

What the record says

On the shores of Island lake, associated with a moated site (MA093-017006-) and earthworks (MA093-017001-). Named ‘Island House’ on the 1838 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps, this fortified house built of rubble limestone with dressed limestone quoins is T-shaped in…

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record MA093-017003

Photo: Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0

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Stop 4 · A 20-minute spin away

Claremount House

“Colonel thought he was king.”

Claremount House in Claremount would spend its lotto win on a very large hat for the roof. It was built for a Colonel who thought he was a king, which is a bold move indeed. A handy spot to stretch your legs before you pretend you knew all this already.

What the record says

Detached five-bay (four-bay deep) two-storey over part raised basement country house with dormer attic, extant 1770, on a U-shaped plan with single-bay full-height advanced end bays. Sold, 1858. Vacated, 1874. Resold, 1876. Adapted to alternative use, 1877.…

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 31310111

Photo: Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0

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The whole day on one map

See everything else around Knock Shrine →

Over a million places across Ireland and Britain, all free. Explorer Tom has a story for nearly every one.