In 1967, a mystery unfolds in Ballygar on the outskirts of Dublin.
Lily, played by Maggie Smith, tends a small memorial grotto dedicated to her son Declan, who drowned at sea in 1927.
A young woman, Chrissie, played by Laura Linney, arrives from America for her late mother’s funeral.
Eileen, a mother with six children, played by Kathy Bates, discovers a lump in her breast.
What is the connection between these women?
What is the secret that sent one of them away 40 years ago?
It doesn’t take long to figure out the answers.
By way of a talent contest, the women are on their way to the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Lourdes, now joined by Dolly, played by an excellent Agnes O’Casey.
Each has a request for a miracle.
In the Disneyfied commercial experience that is Lourdes, each becomes disillusioned.
“You don’t come to Lourdes for a miracle. You come for the strength to go on when there is no miracle,” says Father Byrne (Mark O’Halloran).
Beautifully set, the script, however, seems underwhelming and dated.
Cliched and crusty old chestnuts focusing on the patriarchy involve bungling and inept husbands left to fend for themselves while their better halves are in France.
In one memorable scene, Frank (Steven Rea) is so challenged carrying the food shopping home that he needs to be rescued by his daughter, Cathy (Hazel Doupe), accompanied by much teenage eye-rolling.
There are some heart-warming moments, and The Miracle Club has a great cast featuring an ensemble of award-winning women in Smith, Bates and Linney.
The script they get to work with, though, occasionally lumbers along like a car with square wheels.

• Review by Kathryn Keeble