THOUSANDS of people joined to say the Rosary around the coast on Sunday as Ireland was encircled in prayer.
Organisers had originally hoped that 53 coastal spots would be identified - to reflect the number of times "Hail Mary" is said in the Rosary - but such was the enthusiasm for the initiative, more than 300 locations were involved.
'Rosary on the Coast' was organised to pray "for the protection of life, from conception to natural death, and for the preservation and increase in faith in Ireland", said the organisers, who thanked "Christ our King, and the Most Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Ireland for all the graces and blessings".
It follows a similar initiative in Poland when a chain of more than a million people encircled its borders as they prayed for the "preservation of the faith and for the unborn" in the country.
Sunday November 26 was chosen for the Irish effort because it is celebrated as the Feast of Christ the King; Ireland was the first country to be consecrated to Christ the King.