The importance of the grotto at Deerpark Mine remembered community gathers for rosary

Words: Kilkenny Observer

Photos: Pat Shortall e driving force behind the Worldwide Fatima Rosary on May e Kilkenny Observer newspaper was represented and saw the signi cance rst hand on how important the occasion was. ere was an extra special touch to the occasion as the Lady of Fatima statue was situated on the site of the Deerpark mine. And signi cantly, six former miners were in attendance.

Catholics around the world planned to pray a special Rosary on Saturday, May 13th to honour Our Lady of Fatima and to beg her to intervene in the world, to stop the growing spiral of sin, revolution and violence.

13 was the thought that Our Lady would be pleased to see one million people praying the Rosary all together on May 13th.

And so as you travelled around the country, many towns and villages took up the call at 4pm on May 13th and joined together as one to recite the rosary. One such area was Castlecomer, in North Kilkenny where over twenty joined in prayer.

Chief organiser of the day was John Ryan, himself a miner back in the day.

John expressed his happiness and delight to see so many turn up for the occasion.

“I would have to say a word of thanks to the editor of the annual magazine ‘ e Deenside’, Margaret McGrath, who informed me that the statue at the mines was in fact of our Lady of Fatima”, said John.

John, who is ‘Rosary Captain’ thanked all who attended saying that prayers were being o ered for every miner who ‘bent the knee or tipped the cap’ as they passed the grotto on their way down the mine.

Former councillor Maurice Shortall said that great credit was due to those who organised the event, paying special tribute to John Ryan.

Maurice reminisced on all for-