Joe Coleman refused entry to Knock Shrine

Joe Coleman refused entry to Knock Shrine


Rowan Gallagher

A MAN who claims to be a ‘visionary of the Blessed Mother’ has been banned from the church in Knock by security.
Joe Coleman tried to gain access to the church on Wednesday, July 14, and was kept out of the church by security due to earlier incidents according to Pat Lavelle, Knock Shrine manager.
On the May 10, management met Coleman and allegedly he had prayed loudly in the chapel area where silence is usually observed.
Last Wednesday, the security watched him and when he approached the door told him he wasn’t allowed into the chapel.
“Almost 1.6 million people come to Knock every year, they may only have one or two hours to visit the church and it’s unfair on them.
“When you go into a theatre or the cinema you have to keep quiet. He knows our position now,” said Mr Lavelle. Knock Shrine Manager.
Coleman claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in Knock on a number of occasions and has made  claims that she will appear again.
In October 2009 up to 5,000 people gathered at Knock Shrine to witness an apparition which some claim was in the form of a ‘dancing sun’ which was believed by some as changing colour and glowing.
In the same month Coleman predicted another apparition at Knock Shrine leading to nearly 10,000 people attending.
On this day however, the sun did not aid the visionary and he claimed that he had been given a message by the Virgin Mary but was unwilling to divulge the information right away.
A much smaller turnout of 2,000 people turned up at Knock Shrine on May 12 of this year wearing sun glasses to shield their eyes from the sun as they were expecting a vision from the sky.
Coleman once again claimed he had seen the Virgin Mary at the site.
Last night (Monday), RTE featured a special documentary on Joe Coleman and his visits to Knock Shrine. Whether that succeeds in reviving interest in Joe and his crusade remains to be seen. Certainly, apart from a small core following, interest in his recent visits to Knock has dwindled to little more than a trickle compared with the torrents of nine months ago.