The newly refurbished basilica at Knock, Co Mayo, has won the Interior Architectural Project of the Year 2016 at the Irish Design and Build Awards.
The basilica has what is believed to be one of the largest mosaics in Ireland, if not Europe. Depicting the 1879 apparition at Knock, it is 14sq m (150sq ft) and was inlaid behind the altar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Knock earlier this year.
Designed by Irish artist and illustrator PJ Lynch it was constructed by Travisanutto Mosaics in Spilimbergo, near Venice, Italy. An Italian team installed the mosaic at Knock for the official unveiling on February 28th.
The mosaic was the final stage of a major refurbishment which took place at the basilica over the previous 18 months. It was part of a renewal project called "Witness to Hope", launched in 2014 by parish priest Fr Richard Gibbons.
The overhaul was designed by A&D Wejchert and executed by Stewart, a family-owned company based in Galway since 1902.
