By Sarah Mac Donald - 29 February, 2016
The centrepiece of the refurbishment of Our Lady’s Basilica in Knock was unveiled on Sunday and pilgrims got their first chance to see the spectacular new mosaic depicting the apparition at Knock in 1879 during the 12 noon Mass.
The illustration for the mosaic was done by the renowned Irish artist and illustrator, PJ Lynch.
The company which carried out the mosaicwork is based in Spilimbergo, near Venice.
The artwork, measuring 14 metres x 14 metres, required 1.5 million individual pieces of mosaic and the Apparition mosaic is reportedly one of the biggest mosaics in Europe.
It has been inlaid on the wall behind the sanctuary in the basilica, which was recently overhauled as part of the ‘Witness to Hope’ renewal project.
This summer a pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Boston is due to fly in to Knock accompanied by Cardinal Sean O’Malley and the Mayor of Boston, Martin Walsh.
