The men who built the Killeen Grotto in 1953-54 stand at the Grotto for a
photo.
A group of local men, Jimmy Waldron, Jack Hegarty, Lar Cosgrove, Richie Dooley,
Tom & James Naughton, Gerry Devane,
Mattie Waldron, Mick Mongan, Esker, Eamon Maloney, Kilscoth, Pat Grogan &
Patsy Kelly got together and built
this beautiful Grotto during the cold winter of 1953-54.
They travelled to Caurane, Robeen, where Jack Walsh very kindly allowed them
to quarry stone for free from his land.
This involved first lifting out massive sheets of stone with two crow-bars.
They then broke the sheets, with sledges,
into more manageable pieces, which were brought to Ballindine in Joe Trench's
tractor & trailer.
Jimmy Waldron & Tom Naughton drew sand & stone from Mellett's Quarry
for the foundations.
They then set about building the arched surround, under the guidance of Patsy
Kelly.
They collected £1 per household to purchase the cement and railings.
Finally the Grotto was complete and it was blessed by the Archbishop of Tuam,
who celebrated Mass at the Grotto, in May 1954.
40 years later and the Grotto had begun to look delapitated, until Ann Waldron
set about renovating it.
She got great help (and still does) from her husband Jimmy, Tom Cosgrove,
Noel & Patricia Macken and Richie Dooley.
Many other people also give a helping hand and the whole community are indebted
to all the
above people for giving us this beautiful Grotto.
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