Know this Basilica well. Lived opposite it for several months back in the 80s. Family and I witnessed the visit of Pope John Paul to the Shrine and Basilica. Came to know the then parish priest, Monsignor Horan who was instrumental both in elevating the story of Our Lady of Knock to the consciousness of modern-day pilgrims and the building of an airport on bog land several miles from the village of Knock, County Mayo., and of course, the construction of the Basilica which can accommodate 15,000 people. An informative video called, " A Wing And A Prayer" depicting the Monsignor's legendary life and achievements which ultimately lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs for the locals, many who had been receiving unemployment assistance for years, was aired on RTE and the BBC. Monsignor Horan died whilst on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, not long after the Knock airport was officially opened. His remains were flown back to Mayo and buried in the grounds of the Basilica, the first to be so.