THE MARIAN GROTTO AT FERRY BANK NEAR WATERFORD CITY
THE MARIAN GROTTO AT FERRY BANK NEAR WATERFORD CITY [PHOTOGRAPHED AUGUST 2025]
The Marian Grotto at Ferrybank near Waterford City
Confusion often arises between the large Marian Grotto in Ferrybank and the Our Lady of the Wayside Grotto on Cork Road in Waterford City. During my recent visit, both were photographed, and a third site, a statue in Roanmore Park, was also discovered and photographed. This statue is a different type of monument and is a more recent addition, erected in July 1973. The Our Lady of the Wayside Grotto on Cork Road is a traditional grotto, but the one in Roanmore Park is a statue on a plinth.
The Grotto in Ferrybank is a significant local landmark with a history rooted in the Marian Year of 1954. Following the global Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary, a local committee in Ferrybank, with the full support of then-parish priest Canon James Ryan, initiated a project to build the Grotto.
The Grotto's construction involved using large conglomerate stones sourced from local quarries in Ballinamona and Slieverue. A piece of rock from the Grotto in Lourdes was also incorporated into the structure. On Sunday, 20th May 1956, the Grotto was officially unveiled and blessed before a large gathering of people from Ferrybank and the surrounding areas. A time capsule containing newspapers and coins from the era was also built into the Grotto.
The Grotto remains a focal point for the community, lovingly tended to by a dedicated local resident for many years. It serves as a place of pilgrimage and prayer, and in 2024, a special event marked the 70th anniversary of the Marian Year.
The Marian Grotto at Ferrybank near Waterford City
Confusion often arises between the large Marian Grotto in Ferrybank and the Our Lady of the Wayside Grotto on Cork Road in Waterford City. During my recent visit, both were photographed, and a third site, a statue in Roanmore Park, was also discovered and photographed. This statue is a different type of monument and is a more recent addition, erected in July 1973. The Our Lady of the Wayside Grotto on Cork Road is a traditional grotto, but the one in Roanmore Park is a statue on a plinth.
The Grotto in Ferrybank is a significant local landmark with a history rooted in the Marian Year of 1954. Following the global Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary, a local committee in Ferrybank, with the full support of then-parish priest Canon James Ryan, initiated a project to build the Grotto.
The Grotto's construction involved using large conglomerate stones sourced from local quarries in Ballinamona and Slieverue. A piece of rock from the Grotto in Lourdes was also incorporated into the structure. On Sunday, 20th May 1956, the Grotto was officially unveiled and blessed before a large gathering of people from Ferrybank and the surrounding areas. A time capsule containing newspapers and coins from the era was also built into the Grotto.
The Grotto remains a focal point for the community, lovingly tended to by a dedicated local resident for many years. It serves as a place of pilgrimage and prayer, and in 2024, a special event marked the 70th anniversary of the Marian Year.