The Marian Year Jubilee
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The Marian Year Jubilee 1954 – 2004 Limerick’s contribution to a celebration of Faith Foreword The earliest apparition of the Blessed Virgin is said to be as early as 40 AD, probably before she died, to James the Apostle in Saragossa, Spain. There have been numerous apparitions since then, but the first in Ireland was on August 21st, 1879, in Knock, County Mayo. Margaret Beirne and thirteen others saw a beautiful woman, clothed in white gar- ments, wearing a large brilliant crown. County Mayo had suffered great distress in the 1870s. Partial famine, poverty and forced evictions had created another wave of Irish emigration. It was in this environment that the apparition occurred. The Church’s response to the apparition was typically circumspect. The Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. John MacHale set up a commission to gather testimonies of those claiming to see the apparition and then a record of purported cures was maintained until 1936. The Commission reported that their evidence was “trustworthy and satisfactory”. The Report was published in the newspapers and pilgrims began to travel from afar. One of the first organised pilgrimages to Knock Shrine came from Limerick. Further reports of cures to Limerick people strengthened the connection with Knock. On June 5th 1880 The Munster News reported the story of a woman from Shanagolden, County Limerick, “who arrived in Kilrush to take the steamer across the Shannon on her way home from Knock. Having lost her sight some years previously she had walked all the way to Knock with her young son and during her stay there, recovered her sight. The same steamer had recently put on the pier at Tarbert, a Kerry man having returned from Knock where he also recovered his sight. He was so much overjoyed that he leaped with a cry onto the gangway, and sprang over barrels which were lying on his path to the public road along which he ran in a transport of gladness.” Such tales of cures for locals strengthened the devotion of Limerick people to both the Blessed Virgin and Knock. In the 1940s, the pressing need to re-house people who lived in slum conditions in Limerick City meant that by 1950 the area of the city was only 2,386 acres. The city was then expanded to over 5,000 acres by extending the city limits. By the mid-1950s almost 4,000 new houses were built, on green field sites, in what were to become known as “Corporation Estates.” These new estates needed to establish a sense of identity and found it in their devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The designation of the year 1954 as the Marian Year, offered these residents an opportunity to honour the occasion with the erection of shrines to the Blessed Virgin. Committees styling themselves “Marian Shrine Committees” were formed in all new estates, with responsibility for the building of shrines. They drew their members from the residents of each estate. Mr. Jack Downey, Saint Mary’s Park, was credited as being the first to initiate such a project. The residents of Limerick’s housing schemes, drawn from old close-knit neighbourhoods in the city and dispersed among “strangers” in their new environment found that the common enterprise of shrine construction drew people more closely together. It was the first evidence of a communi- ty spirit at work in the newly built suburbs. Committees in Ballinacurra Weston, Prospect, Fair Green, Sean Heuston Place, Rathbane, Ballynanty Beg and Kileely were competing to produce the finest shrine from their limited resources. The absence of shrines in the wealthier areas of the city was and is still conspicuous. The success of the efforts of communities in the Marian Year of 1954 prompted their continuation in 1955 and sub- sequent years. Shrine Committees were approached by “Coisde Lá Le Pádraig” an organisation with responsibility for arranging local celebrations during Saint Patrick’s week or Feile Pádraig. The shrines were used as a focal point for parades and other celebratory activities during the week and were exceeded in popularity only by the Saint Patrick’s Day parade itself. On every night of the week, in almost every area, the local committees carried out a most extensive programme. Torch light processions and Irish nights, children’s and drama nights, band recitals, concerts, parades and crossroad dancing were some of the events arranged for the week. All parades and processions were organised between shrines and prayer recitals and Holy Rosaries were held at the shrines. Large crowds of up to 2,000 people gathered to enjoy the events and established the shrines as a symbol of pride for each community. It is sad to think that the com- munity spirit so evident during the erection of the Shrines is slowly dwindling away in the modern more affluent era. My memories of visits to the Marian Shrines coincided with visits to families and friends who lived in the partic- ular areas. No such visit with my aunt was complete without visiting the shrine and ‘saying a prayer’ there. The shrines are now merely relics of a time when local pride and religious commitment went hand in hand. This book is a nostal- gic recall for people who lived through those times and a reminder to those who missed out. TONY BROWNE Historian September 2004 Page 2 Sunday, June 27, 1954 Massive manifestation of faith as more than 15,000 people parade through city streets EVER before and certainly never since had streets and the grandness of the shrines, altars and Limerick witnessed such a striking manifes- windows by the wayside will remain as bright as a tation of faith when 15,000 marched in pro- jewel in the firmament of great civic events. Ncession through the neatly decorated streets as a “The strength of the Faith could be gleaned, too, mark of honour to the Mother of God in this Marian from the combined efforts of neighbours in many dis- Year, The Limerick Leader recorded on Monday, tricts and of business people who lavishly decorated June 28, 1954. their sectors for the great occasion. Streamers, ban- “Very fittingly,” the paper continued, “the citi- ners, bunting and other decorative materials were zens demonstrated their love for the Supreme Queen not spared on the route. The Mother of God was by the manifestations of faith and fervour. It was revered in the windows of countless houses by neat- appropriate at the conclusion that Most Rev. Dr. ly dressed shrines and altars with statues and pic- O’Hara, Papal Nuncio, the representative of His tures and in many cases illuminated by candles or Holiness, Pope Pius XII, should impart Solemn fairy lights. Altars and shrines were also erected in Benediction to the vast gathering in the Assembly many streets, lanes and alleys far away from the Ground of the Redemptorist College where the clos- route of the procession. The same windows were ing ceremonies were carried out.” aglow last night in the same setting that had served The report began with the Marian Year prayer to regale the Queen of Heaven during the procession. composed by His Holiness, Pope Pius XII: “You are all The historic Treaty Stone provided a pedestal for a 20 beautiful, O Mary; You are the glory, you are the joy and foot illuminated shrine. And the citizens rejoiced in you are the honour of our people, Amen.” prayer for well they could after a wonderful day of The Limerick Leader wrote: “How aptly these fervour. words of the concluding portion of the Marian Year “Right on the stroke of 3.30 p.m. the members of prayer could be applied to yesterday’s great demon- the Redemptorist Church Choir, under the charge of stration of homage to the Holy Mother of God. Glory Rev. Fr. John Torney, CSsR, in their special dress, led was manifested in profusion and honour shown in the huge procession from the Redemptorist College abundance by over 15,000 men, women, boys and Assembly field. Immediately behind came a horse girls, as they wended through the bedecked and drawn car containing a large picture of Our Mother beflagged city streets reciting the Rosary and singing of Perpetual Succour formally surrounded with hymns in praise of the supreme Mother and Queen. paper drapery of blue and white. It was drawn by The intermittent rain during the procession did not men of St. John’s parish and flanked by a guard of dampen the ardour of the members of the Arch- honour of members of the Maritime Institute. Confraternity of the Holy Family and those of Our Following them were the members of the Boys’ Lady of Perpetual Succour Confraternity under the Confraternity in rows of six each under the supervi- spiritual direction of Rev. Fr. James Gormley, CSsR, sion of Christian Brothers and teachers. The boys and Rev. Fr. Sean O’Carroll, CSsR., respectively. The behaved themselves in a manner that was distinctly showers, heavy though at times, were no deterrent to credible. Catholic Boy Scouts from the various city all who marched with the resolve to honour and glo- troops under the command of Commissioner Tim rify a Queen assumed into heaven. Daly, marched in this section while Knights of Malta, “How gladdened must have been the heart of the the Irish Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Apostolic Nuncio, Most Rev. Dr. G. P. O’Hara, and of were also represented throughout the long line of the Bishop of Limerick, Most Rev. Dr. P. O’Neill, as processionists.” they witnessed this great act of devotion in honour of The report continued: “The first of the seven this Marian Year.