THE GROTTO AT INCHICORE

The very first pilgrimage from Ireland to Lourdes in France was organised by the Oblates in 1883 and it was led by Fr W Ring OMI. Immediately there was a wish that there should be a Lourdes Shrine (replica) in Ireland and specifically at Inchicore. Fr Ring constructed what was known as the 'Little Grotto' after that pilgrimage. Work was supervised by Rev Brother Malone.OMI Travelling to France in those days was a very honorous and tiring task ... many would be unable to endure the journey but could benefit from a visit to a local Irish Lourdes Shrine.

Fr Michael Sweeney OMI made his decision in 1924 to build a replica Lourdes Shrine at Inchicore where those who would be unable to undertake the journey to Lourdes in France could express their devotion to Our Lady in Ireland itself and at Inchicore and satisfy their longing to pay their own special devotion to Our Lady Immaculate. Work commenced in 1928 and the Grotto was opened on Sunday 11th May 1930 with a High Mass celebrated by Most Reverend Dr Byrne DD Archbishop of Dublin. Bishop McNeely of Raphoe gave the sermon and a very large crowd packed the Church grounds.

The Grotto is 5Oft high, 130 ft wide and 40 ft deep and is built of reinforced concrete in an as exact a form as it would be possible to create. The familiar niche is there and the statue of the Our Lady as she appeared to St Bernadette in 1858 when she declared "I am the Immaculate Conception" - (as if to re affirm the dogma of the Immaculate Conception as promulgated by the Church in 1854). This Irish Lourdes became the centre of wonderful devotion to Our Blessed Lady down all the years and pilgrims continue to visit the Shrine all the year round but especially for the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes (2nd - 11th February).

This Novena concludes with the torchlight procession and thousands gather to honour Our Bless Mother on her special Lourdes feast. Work on the Grotto was executed by Reverend Brother Patrick McIntyre OMI, and the contours, the dimensions and the ethos have been beautifully captured by his genius. Inside the bowels of the Grotto is contained the very famous Inchicore Crib open from Christmas Eve to 11th of February, and very well worth a visit. With such a wonderful devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes it seemed fitting that the chaplains in Lourdes itself would be chosen from among the Oblates as described elsewhere.