Last Friday I was traveling from my home in Kerry to Longford by train. Whilst waiting for a connecting train in a tiny station I overheard a conversation between two people. It started by one person asking the other how they were spending the weekend. One said that he was going to visit family and friends. The other said that she was going to spend the weekend praying in one of the many 'holy " sites scattered throughout Ireland. The place in question is a little village in Mayo called Knock. In 1879 it was claimed that Mary, the mother of Jesus appeared as well as John the Baptist, John the apostle and for good measure, Jesus and Joseph husband of Mary. The "vision " was first seen by a young girl who was accompanied by an older woman. The older woman was the housekeeper of the parish priest. Relatives of both were next to arrive and see the "vision". The "vision" was seen on the whitewashed gable of the church. Pilgrims continue to go to Knock since then. There have been more bizarre claims of other "visions' down through the years. As if the first wasn't bizarre enough. So here was this young woman on her way to spend three days praying to a wall. Although I could not doubt her sincerity I felt saddened. It seemed like a terrible waste of a weekend to me.