Pope Pius XII declared 1954 to be a "Marian Year", dedicated to the glory of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All over Ireland, grottos sprang up in her honour except, according to Barry Devlin's drama, in the parish of Eglish.
Influenced by an enthusiastic priest, a 10-year-old altar boy believes himself to be experiencing visions. First of all he encounters Barabbas, the Good Thief of the New
Testament (a cameo role by Gabriel Byrne); then he is found talking to a statue of the Virgin in the parish church. The people of Eglish believe they have witnessed a miracle.
Tom Wilkinson, as Father McAteer, makes his first of two appearances in the current Screen Two series, playing priests on both occasions (he co-stars in Priest later in the run). Writer/director Barry Devlin is best known in Ireland as the lead singer of 70s Celtic rock band Horslips.
Producer Katy McGuinness
See This Week page 6

Followed by Sarajevo - a Street under Siege