Knock, County Mayo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Knock
Irish: Cnoc Mhuire
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Village
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The roundabout at Knock
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 Knock
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Mayo |
| Elevation | 78 m (256 ft) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 972 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Eircode |
F12
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| Irish Grid Reference | M396818 |
Knock is a small village located in County Mayo, Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish word "cnoc," which means "hill." Today, it is also known in Irish as "Cnoc Mhuire," meaning "Hill of (the Virgin) Mary."
Knock is famous around the world as a special place for Catholics. Many people believe that the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and Saint John the Evangelist appeared here to some people on August 21, 1879. Because of this, Knock has become a very important pilgrimage site, like Lourdes and Fatima. About 1.5 million visitors come to Knock every year!
In 1979, exactly 100 years after the event, Pope John Paul II visited the shrine. Later, in 2018, Pope Francis also visited the basilica during his trip to Ireland.
Contents
Understanding the Name of Knock
The name Knock comes from the Irish word "cnoc," which means "hill." Historical records show the village has been called this since at least 1625. After the special event in 1879, the Irish name changed to "Cnoc Mhuire." This means "Hill of the Virgin Mary," honoring the believed appearance. Sometimes, the village was historically called Knockdrumcalry, which means "hill of the ridge of the Cálraighe."
The History of Knock Village
The area of Knock is divided into 45 smaller sections called townlands. Most of these are in a region known as Costello. Knock is located about five miles from Claremorris, which was an important market town in the past. It sits between Claremorris and another town called Ballyhaunis.
Monsignor James Horan's Impact
Monsignor James Horan (1911–1986) became the local priest of Knock in 1963. He played a huge role in developing the village. He oversaw the building of a large new church called a basilica. This church, named "Our Lady, Queen of Ireland," was finished in 1967 and can hold 10,000 people!
Monsignor Horan also helped build the nearby Ireland West Airport. He was a strong supporter of inviting Pope John Paul II to visit Knock in 1979. This visit was to celebrate 100 years since the Marian apparition.
Learning and Sports in Knock
The main school for younger children in the village is Knock National School, which was built in 1966.
For sports, the local soccer team is Kiltimagh Knock United F.C., started in 2002. Their home ground, CMS Park, is a short distance from the village. If young people from Knock want to play other sports, they often join teams in nearby areas, like Aghamore.
Travel and Transport in Knock
Ireland West Airport is located about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Knock. Monsignor James Horan opened this airport on May 30, 1986. The airport has been very important for bringing visitors and pilgrims to Knock and its shrine, helping the local area grow.
Climate in Knock
| Climate data for Ireland West Airport: 201 m (659 ft) 1996–2020 normals | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.8 (65.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
25.1 (77.2) |
28.9 (84.0) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.9 (82.2) |
21.8 (71.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
28.9 (84.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) |
7.3 (45.1) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.0 (44.6) |
11.9 (53.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.7 (45.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
12.6 (54.7) |
13.9 (57.0) |
13.8 (56.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
9.3 (48.7) |
6.4 (43.5) |
4.7 (40.5) |
8.8 (47.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
1.9 (35.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
10.5 (50.9) |
10.6 (51.1) |
9.1 (48.4) |
6.5 (43.7) |
3.9 (39.0) |
2.3 (36.1) |
5.7 (42.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
5.8 (42.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 134.5 (5.30) |
113.1 (4.45) |
97.0 (3.82) |
81.8 (3.22) |
92.5 (3.64) |
96.0 (3.78) |
109.1 (4.30) |
117.2 (4.61) |
109.5 (4.31) |
129.1 (5.08) |
143.6 (5.65) |
151.5 (5.96) |
1,374.9 (54.12) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 48.1 | 62.3 | 101.6 | 144.6 | 173.9 | 144.8 | 120.9 | 120.1 | 100.6 | 85.2 | 55.3 | 39.1 | 1,196.5 |
| Source: Met Éireann | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Knock para niños
