The year 1954 was declared by Pope Pius XII as ‘Marian Year’ and around Ireland hundreds of statues, shrines, chapels and grottos were erected, many of which can still be see on roadsides across the country.
Today, on almost every road in the country you will see statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, usually in well tended settings, like this one in Rossmore, County Laois. Erected by the workers of Rossmore Collieries to commemorate the Marian Year 1954. Re-erected here 1973.
This is called Catholic Grotto to Our Lady Of Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in honour of the Marian apparitions that are claimed to have occurred in 1858 in the vicinity of Lourdes in France.
There are benches, and rosary recital every Sunday at 3pm. The Rosary during May for Life & Faith in Ireland.
Location of Catholic Grotto to Our Lady Of Lourdes, Rossmore, Co. Laois:
Its nice to come across you. This is so good indeed and my God bless your works
I am a Catholic in Uganda from Hoima Catholic Diocese.
I am the head of the Laity of Mary Mother of God Murro Catholic Parish. The Murro hill is offered to Mary of Guadalupe. At the hill we have Foyer De Charite. So the hill has three faces of Mary. Based on this back ground I have conceived an idea of constructing a grotto with three sides each side with sculpture (Mary mother of God, Mary of Guadalupe, and Foyer de Charite) I want to be assisted in coming up with posible designs. I will be grateful