FROM Friday evening, it was obvious this would be no ordinary October Saturday in Knock.One local reported lines of Hiace vans, four-wheel drives, caravans and similar vehicles parked on streets and approach roads.
"More like August than October," he said. Knock's main pilgrim season runs through the middle six months of the year, and tapers off as winter arrives.
Many of the young women present also dressed as if it were August, sporting short-sleeved tops and short dresses that left them cruelly exposed to the vagaries of the weather.
Dubliner Joe Coleman, who calls himself a spiritualist and a medium, had made strong claims about three o'clock yesterday being the appointed hour. During the week, Dr Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, spoke out against the phenomenon of scheduled apparitions, saying that Knock would be best served by "retaining its authentic identity."
From shortly after noon, Knock's car parks were full. Shop staff were run off their feet as visitors snapped up all manner of religious trinkets.
All eyes were fixed on the Basilica, where Mr Coleman said Our Lady would appear. Her message, he had said, would be "announced in the Church by her visionary, Keith Henderson". At 1.30pm, word coursed through the Shrine foreground that "they're closing the Basilica soon".
And yes, stewards were trying to contain the numbers. Inside, the place was thronged, with all seats taken and the wide aisle between the seating and the altar also full of people. Many of those present were members of the Travelling community, who have long shown a devotion to Knock and Mayo's other sacred ground, Croagh Patrick.
Mr Coleman and Mr Henderson were directly in front of the altar. The younger man (Henderson) wore a white top and beige scarf, and remained kneeling in prayer. Mr Coleman alternated between kneeling and standing.
Both were focused on a point on, or beyond, the altar. Mr Coleman's face betrayed little emotion, but Mr Henderson wore a large smile for much of the event. Occasionally, Mr Coleman would lift a crucifix and kiss it.
At 2.20pm, a middle-aged woman wearing a pink jacket took to the altar. "Stop talking, this is the church," she implored the huge gathering. "Sing a hymn," she added.
And, led by her, they did: "Pray for the wanderer, pray for me . . ." Later, she led them in the Rosary, punctured by choruses of Ave Maria and Were You There When They Crucified the Lord?
The Rosary continued almost without interruption until minutes before 3pm. The lady in pink temporarily vacated the altar, only to return again sans the pink jacket. She said Mr Coleman had received a "message" that the Sorrowful Mysteries should be recited.
The Rosary recommenced. Mr Coleman and Mr Henderson remained focused on the point on, or beyond, the altar. Mr Coleman was the more physically expressive, spreading his hands out wider, while Mr Henderson's smile remained in place.
At 3.15pm, the place began to empty out, first in a trickle, and then almost in a surge. Whispers started about something taking place outside.
Outside, people were staring at the sun. "Look, look", some exclaimed. "What is it? asked others. "Did you see anything?" was another frequent question.
Some were adamant the sun was dancing. One woman said she saw "something small" and made the shape of a round object with her hands.
I didn't see anything unusual, but I didn't focus too long on the sun either, having read the health warnings about potential damage to the eyes.
Things became frenetic as people pushed forward to get a better view. There were some spontaneous rounds of applause. The lady previously in pink, but now in white, was surrounded by a group of mainly women.
One asked her to pray for a family member who had passed on.
They said a prayer together and then she (the lady now in white) told her to "go to see Jesus, I am only a miserable sinner".
Others asked her what she had seen. She reported that she had turned to Joe in the church and asked him if Our Lady was present. He replied "she is".
She (the lady in white) also told the knot of people gathered around her that she had heard a loud noise. She said some had claimed this to be a rumbling of the earth.
Gradually, the throng dispersed, but an hour later, there was still quite a crowd around.
So what now?
Mr Coleman has said there will be more apparitions.
December 8 is understood to figure in the plans.
One seasoned Knock observer put yesterday's crowd at "15,000 or more".
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