Then I took some pictures, until my camera's battery ran out. (Maybe it's a good thing I didn't take more pictures in Dublin: the battery might have failed before I got these.)
The Apparition Chapel.
Looking into the Apparition Chapel during a Mass. The rear wall of the chapel is the exterior wall of the church on which the vision appeared. You can see the sculptures representing the vision.
One unusual feature of this vision is that there was nothing said by those who appeared. Generally, when the Blessed Virgin appears, she speaks to those who see her.
The basilica. It was to my right when I took the previous pictures. To the left of the basilica is a tall celtic cross commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul II.
Many people who visits sites such as this report feeling of an almost mystical sort. That doesn't generally happen to me. I tend to feel analytical the whole time. I don't know if it's some sort of deficiency in my personality, but I regret not sharing the exalted feelings many others get. Still, for what it's worth, going there was an act of faith on my part, and I certainly don't regret going or having it as a major destination of this trip.
Afterwards, I returned to Monaghan. The decision I had to make was whether to take the motorway to Dublin and the highway to Monaghan or to take a more direct route, leaving the motorway about halfway to Dublin and going via Cavan and Clones. I decided on the latter, and it turned out okay, although I hit a traffic jam in Cavan (which I could have avoided if I had understood the sign which indicated the way to a bypass). The jam in Clones was the only one I encountered which was eased by police directing traffic. Betwenn Clones and Monaghan Town, the most direct route passes through two stretches, each about a mile long, of Northern Ireland. There are no border stations, so the only way you know you are in territory subject to H.M Betty Windsor is that distances are given in miles rather than kilometers.
