08/06/2026
All Ireland Rosary Rally , WOW 🙏
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13,000 Attend Knock Rosary Rally
In the largest single gathering of Catholics in Ireland since Pope Francis’ visit in 2018, the All-Ireland Rosary brought over 13000 people to Knock Shrine on Saturday in a joint prayer for peace.
Busloads of people from the four corners of Ireland converged on Knock on Saturday for the 41st All Ireland Rosary, as the rain forecast cleared to make way for sunshine and blue skies. The crowds exceeded last year’s attendance by one-third, in excess of the ten thousand anticipated.
Speaking after the Rally, Archbishop Eamon Martin said, “I felt a tremendous sense of joy and hope among the people who were gathered there. And it was especially gratifying to see many young people, including the children's rosary group, who made a very important and beautiful contribution to the day.”
“I really felt that Knock was alive, and it makes me realise that our Blessed Mother continues to speak into the troubled world in which we live, with many new problems and new challenges. From the point of view of Ireland, it's very important for us to have a gathering like this, to affirm the very many people who have remained strong and steadfast in their faith. and who need this kind of gathering in order to give them encouragement and a strong sense of mission.”
“That's a word that I went home with in my head. There is a wonderful mission involved in the Rosary Rally. It's about gathering people, but also about sending them back into their homes, parishes, and communities, to continue to make the beautiful graces of our Blessed Mother well known, to continue to pray for peace.”
Turning to the practical ways in which people can make a difference in parishes he said, “I personally would invite people to restore the practice of the first Saturday devotions. This would be in fulfilment of our Blessed Mother's own wish, but it would also provide a new and further structure for parishes to gather, to pray the rosary, to have adoration, to have the sacrament of reconciliation available.”
Archbishop Martin expressed hope that other countries might be inspired by the example of the All-Ireland Rosary Rally. “I do hope and pray that Father Marius will be encouraged to continue the Rosary rallies in Ireland, and perhaps that other countries will follow suit in the future.”
In his sermon during Mass at Knock, Archbishop Eamon Martin had encouraged the congregation of thousands to pray often, in union with Mary, for the protection of humanity in this technological age. Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV in his recent encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ he said, “Artificial Intelligence is already shaping human life in homes, workplaces and communities, in hospitals, public services and economies. AI can do remarkable and helpful things. It can even mimic human behaviour and voices, but: it cannot love, suffer, forgive, pray or hope as humans can, nor can it be truly “wise”. AI does not have a conscience.”
Archbishop Martin led the Renewal of the Consecration of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the culmination of the Rosary Procession.
The huge crowd also heard from an inspiring panel of international speakers.
* Bishop Oliver Doeme told the assembled throng of the power of the Rosary in strengthening the faith and courage of the people of his Diocese in Nigeria who live in daily fear of murder at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists.
* Nikki Kingsley shared her remarkable conversion journey from the Muslim faith in her native Pakistan to being received into the Catholic faith. Her moving and inspiring story focused on the power of the Rosary and her devotion to Our Lady.
* Other speakers included Fr Chris Alar, who talked of the importance of Marian devotion, and Sr Ângela de Fátima, who is Vice-Postulator for the cause of the three Fatima children.
