It has been officially announced today that President Joe Biden will make a personal visit to Knock Shrine as part of his four-day trip to Ireland.

The President will visit Knock Shrine on Friday.

Arriving in the afternoon, he will be welcomed by Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine and Mr. John Conroy, Manager of Knock Shrine. The President is making a personal visit to the Shrine, where he will have the opportunity to learn more about the unique and fascinating story of Knock while also taking some time for private prayer. Speaking about the upcoming visit, Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine says: “We are delighted to welcome President Joe Biden to Knock Shrine. This is a great honour and will be the first visit of a US President to the Shrine, a special and unique place on the island of Ireland. We have previously been honoured by two Papal visits, Saint John Paul II in 1979, Pope Francis in 2018, as well as Saint Mother Teresa in 1993. We are delighted to have been included as part of the President’s personal visits to Mayo.”

As a result of the President’s visit, Knock Shrine grounds and main street will be closed to the public from 1pm tomorrow,  Thursday, 13th April. There will be no access or viewing area for the public to facilitate this private visit.  

Traffic management measures will be in place.

Find out more at garda.ie .

There will be no Mass or Confessions available from 1pm tomorrow, Thursday 13th April. Churches at Knock Shrine will reopen to the public from 4.30pm on Friday.

Mass will take place at 7.30pm in the Parish Church on Friday evening.

All services will reopen as normal on Saturday 15th April.