Kathleen Kilbane - In the Presence of a Holy Child

garabandal · May 3, 2026 at 10:20 AM

Dave Fagan said: ↑

From the Kathleen Kilbane and Other 'Child Saints' Fb Page:

"The Marian Apparition at Kerrytown, Donegal: A Quiet Story That Never Quite Went Away

Tucked into the rolling countryside of Donegal, about a ten-minute drive north of Dungloe, Kerrytown isn’t the kind of place that shouts for attention. It’s quiet, rural, and ordinary in the way so many Irish townlands are. But for decades now, there’s been a story attached to it that refuses to fade — the story of a Marian apparition said to have appeared there, witnessed not by crowds or cameras, but by ordinary local people going about their lives.

Unlike Lourdes or Knock, Kerrytown never became a pilgrimage hotspot. There are no souvenir stalls or tour buses. And maybe that’s part of what makes the story linger. It was never polished or packaged. It stayed local.

On the night of the 11th of January 1939, two daughters of the Ward family went to the outside toilet before going to bed. While one of them was waiting for her turn, she happened to glance towards the large granite rock face near the house. It was a dark night, and she was not expecting to see anything unusual. But she did, she saw what looked like a statue of a beautiful woman standing on top of the rock. She was radiating a brilliant light and reminded her of Our Lady. The girl called her sister, and she saw it as well. The rest of her family and her next-door neighbours came to see what all the fuss was about. Nine people in all saw Our Lady there at that time.

The parish priest, who was sceptical, came, and he did not see anything, but just as he was leaving, he did see the apparition on the rock. He later confirmed this in a written statement. Many other people have given sworn statements about their experiences there since.

Word spread quickly through the surrounding area, mostly by mouth. Neighbours told neighbours. Families passed the story down. Some people came to pray quietly at the site, especially during difficult times. Others stayed sceptical but respectful. In Donegal, those two attitudes often live comfortably side by side.

What’s interesting is how low-key the whole thing remained. There was no official Church declaration confirming the apparition, but there was no strong push to shut the story down either. It simply existed — believed by some, doubted by others, but rarely mocked. For many locals, that was enough.

Older residents still recall candles being left, prayers being said, and a general sense that the place was “different,” even if you couldn’t quite put your finger on why. Younger generations may only half-know the story, something they overheard at the kitchen table or during a walk through the fields. Yet it’s still there, woven into Kerrytown’s identity like an old thread in a familiar coat.

In Ireland, Marian apparitions tend to resonate deeply, especially in rural areas. Mary has long been seen as a figure of comfort — close to the people, close to suffering, close to everyday life. That’s why Kerrytown’s story feels so believable to those who hold it dear. It doesn’t feel grand or theatrical. It feels intimate.

Today, if you visit Kerrytown, you won’t find roped-off areas with plaques spelling everything out, or stalls selling Chinese-made religious tat, but you will find a Garden of Remembrance, where people have written the names of their deceased loved ones on stones. There’s a wooden shed, the walls of which are covered with Memorial cards, and the Ward family’s little cottage houses statues & religious pictures. At the rock where Our Lady appeared, there’s a beautiful white statue of her and atop the rock – a large cross. It is a wonderfully peaceful place, and if you time your visit right, you will find others there praying to Our Lady. It’s a good place to make new friends.

And maybe that’s the heart of it. The Marian apparition at Kerrytown isn’t about spectacle. It’s about memory, faith, and the way small places carry big meanings for the people who love them. In a world that moves fast and demands proof for everything, Kerrytown’s quiet story remains exactly that — quiet, unresolved, and somehow still alive.

One final note: My dad, Victor brought Kathleen to Kerrytown. Her booklets & cards are placed in the cottage for people to take home with them. (don’t know if there’s any left now) Her prayer cards are in the shed are her image is in a grotto my dad made for her and it sits in the Garden of Remembrance."

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Reminds me of a little known apparition in County Down; for newer members the link is below.

https://motheofgod.com/threads/our-lady-of-the-hill.1595/#post-172629

Dave Fagan · May 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM

jackzokay said: ↑

Dave, thank you for posting this thread. That book is an amazing read.
Everyone should read it.
What a brave wee girl she was.
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Thanks Jackzokay,
Kathleen's story, though sad in many ways, is very uplifting.
She was indeed a wonderful young girl.

Kathleen, little Saint of Achill Island, pray for us.

jackzokay · May 4, 2026 at 8:04 AM

Yes. I forwarded it to several friends. Everyone found it fascinating. Sad... Yet inspirational.

Agnes McAllister · May 4, 2026 at 2:14 PM

I have started sending A prayer to sweet Kathleen daily!!! Between this angel and Sister Clare, I'm sure many miracles will follow.

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Kathleen Kilbane - In the Presence of a Holy Child

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