Joe Duffy - Immodestly Dressed Pilgrims at Knock Shrine

Mixed reactions to new modesty dress code at Knock.
Mayo Advertiser, August 20, 2010.

The imposition of a modesty dress code at Knock Shrine since last week has drawn mixed reactions from pilgrims.

The issue received national attention during the week when callers to RTE's Live Line told presenter Joe Duffy that the dress code clampdown was causing offence.

One mother of a 13-year old girl said her daughter, who was dressed appropriately for her age in mid-thigh length shorts and a summer top, was upset as a result of the dress code. "She was approached and was in tears and said she had been told she wasn't appropriately dressed. She wasn't even scantily dressed. She loves going to Knock since her First Communion. We were so disappointed. My daughter walked out feeling she wasn't welcome at Knock Shrine and has since questioned should she go to Mass at all. It's a battle to keep children in the faith as it is," she said.

She added that on the same day the family saw an older woman in shorts and a man in a tank top wearing nothing else on top but neither was approached, and she questioned whether this meant there was one rule for the young and another for the old.

An older caller contended that the new dress code was a good thing. "People used to come scantily dressed from the waist up, as good as topless, and shorts are only for the beach. It's a holy place and should be respected."

Pat Lavelle, manager at Knock Shrine for the last 20 years, said in other shrines around the world it was standard to enforce a dress code. "I was refused myself in the Holy Land because I was wearing shorts where you are expected to wear trousers. I just had to accept it because it's the rule."

Knock Shrine currently welcomes up to 1.6 million pilgrims every year and feedback over the years has led to the new dress code being introduced, added Mr Lavelle.

"People say over the years what changes they want and we must respond, and a big issue has been why there is no dress code like in other shrines. We didn't do it hurriedly and all that has happened is we've erected a simple sign showing three images of what's considered inappropriate."

He added that over the years he had seen men stripped off and topless at Knock and women scantily dressed, which made for an uncomfortable situation for other pilgrims.