At the early age of thirty-eight, my mother said, Go west! Get up, says she, And get a job! Says I, I'll do my best I pulled on my wellingtons to march to Kiltimagh But I took a wrong turn in Charlestown and I ended up in Knock Once this quiet crossroads was a place of gentle prayer Where Catholics got indulgent once or twice a year You could buy a pair of rosary beads or get your candles blessed If you had a guilty conscience you could get it off your chest Then came the priest from Partry, Father Horan was his name Ever since he's been appointed Knock has never been the same Begod, says Jim, 'Tis eighty years since Mary was about 'Tis time for another miracle, and he blew the candle out From Fatima to Bethlehem and from Lourdes to Kiltimagh I've never seen a miracle like the airport up in Knock And to establish terra firma he drew up a ten year plan And he started running bingo around nineteen sixty-one He built a fabulous basilica upon the Holy Ground And once he had a focal point he started to expand Chip shops and bed and breakfasts sprung up overnight Once a place for quiet retreat, now it's a holy sight All sorts of fancy restaurants for every race and creed Where black and white and yellow pilgrims could get a mighty feed We had the Blessed Virgin here, Father Horan did declare And Foster and Allen, they appeared just over there Now do you mean to tell me, says he in total shock That I am not entitled to an auld airport here in Knock The TDs were lobbied and harrassed with talk of promised votes And people who'd been loyal for years spoke of changing coats Excommunication was threatened upon the flock Who said it was abortive building airports up in Knock Now everyone is happy and the miracle it's complete Father Horan's got his auld runway - and it's eighteen thousand feet All sorts of planes could land there, of that there's little doubt It'll be handy now for George Bush to knock Gadafi out From Fatima to Bethlehem and from Lourdes to Kiltimagh I've never seen a miracle like the airport up in Knock Now poor old Father Jim is gone to the airport in the sky And down on Barr na Cuiga he keeps a friendly eye On Ryanair and Aer Lingus as they fly to and fro We'll never see his likes again on the planes of sweet Mayo Did NATO donate the dough, my boys, did NATO donate the dough Did NATO donate the dough, my boys, did NATO donate the dough From Fatima to Bethlehem and from Lourdes to Kiltimagh I've never seen a miracle like the airport up in Knock.