On the second of September 1985 five girls left Hanley's house in Carns, Culleens, Co. Sligo, to go to Boland's shop. It was 9.20 p.m. and the girls were Patricia McGuinness, Colleen McGuinness (sisters) their cousin Mary McGuinness and Mary Hanley. The fifth girl was Diane O'Dwyer, a visitor from England and she was staying with her grandfather M.J. Boland -- the girls were leaving Diane home.

It was a dark night, and the girls began to sing as they walked along the road. As they were passing the place where the Apparition was to take place later they remembered singing "Be Not Afraid". They sang many songs and chatted on the way to and from the shop.

On reaching the home of their friend, they did not delay but said goodbye and turned back for their own homes.

While returning home the friends happened to look up into the sky (on the opposite side of the road to where the Apparition site is now) they saw two brilliant figures in white, one was the figure of Our Lady and the other was Saint Bernadette, looking up at Our Lady.

There was a star to the right of Our Lady's head. The girls were afraid but just had to look at the Apparition, they said the Memorare and then made for home.

When they got home Mrs Hanley came to the door to put on the outside light, there was a visitor in the house who was leaving at the time the girls returned, Mrs Hanley said she could see a glow of light on the four girls but the visitor couldn't see anything at all.