August 15th. 2006 was a very special day for the beautiful Lourdes Grotto in Clones.

On that day new figures of Our Lady and St. Bernadette were unveiled and blessed by Canon Macartan McQuaid, PP and Fr. Pat Meehan.

By any standard the Grotto has a unique history. It was built 47 years ago by William McMahon & Sons and the original figures were donated by Mrs. Ellen McCabe of Sunnymeade. The stones for the Grotto were donated by James Sherry, Munilly. The round kneeling stones were taken from the Canal Bridge at Clonavilla which had been demolished some time previously. The marble stone under the statue of St. Bernadette was part of the old baptismal font. The sandstone walk around the Grotto is from the old footpath in Fermanagh Street. Two white stones at the front of the Grotto came from Lifford, Co. Donegal. The stones and materials were drawn voluntarily by the parishioners and it cost £243-6-0 to erect the Grotto in 1959.

Photos by Raymond Cullen