37 years today

[T Fearon]

A Pope set foot in Ireland for the first and to date only time.I remember getting the Belfast to Dublin (filled with Scottish Celtic supporters who had come over in the boat that morning) train at Portdown,and a shuttle bus from Connolly to the Phoenix Park.Even though it was a Saturday,Dublin City was at a standstill,the Pope was the only show in town.The day itself in Phoenix Park seemed to go on forever,and I did eventually get a reasonably close up view as Pope John Paul II did the rounds in the Pope Mobile.

Any others have memories.

[seafoid]

A Pope set foot in Ireland for the first and to date only time.I remember getting the Belfast to Dublin (filled with Scottish Celtic supporters who had come over in the boat that morning) train at Portdown,and a shuttle bus from Connolly to the Phoenix Park.Even though it was a Saturday,Dublin City was at a standstill,the Pope was the only show in town.The day itself in Phoenix Park seemed to go on forever,and I did eventually get a reasonably close up view as Pope John Paul II did the rounds in the Pope Mobile.

Any others have memories.

He came to Galway. The Racecourse in a helicopter. Got up very early.
There were hymns that they did at mass for months afterwards

[T Fearon]

My mum and dad went to Knock to see him later that same Sunday.Memories still very fresh even though it was nearly forty years ago

[T Fearon]

As usual it was contentious up North and even Paisley felt the need in advance that while he disagrees with everything the Pope says and believes he would nevertheless deplore any attempt on the Pope's life

[laoislad]

I heard he went to Coppers afterwards and shifted a Nurse from Carlow.

[Nigel White]

I heard he went to Coppers afterwards and shifted a Nurse from Carlow.

Did you really need to put that up?

[bennydorano]

I heard he went to Coppers afterwards and shifted a Nurse from Carlow.

Fearon or PJP?

[Tony Baloney]

I heard he went to Coppers afterwards and shifted a Nurse from Carlow.

Fearon or PJP?

Both. They were sisters from Carlow. Not Sisters hopefully!

[Hardy]

I found the mass hysteria disturbing.

[seafoid]

I found the mass hysteria disturbing.

I felt the same when Clinton was in Dublin in 1996

[T Fearon]

Did this pave the way for open air rock concerts at venues like Slane? It showed that big crowds could be accommodated and managed in ample open spaces etc?

[seafoid]

I think it paved the way for the 1983 abortion referendum
The Pope was a fundi
That vote was the last highlight of Church control in Ireland
You had the Eamon Casey story a few years later and after that the wheels came off

[T Fearon]

The Youth Mass in Galway was something else.It is a pity,in retrospect,that Casey and Clery played such prominent roles,but then again no one was aware of their misdemeanours.

His plea for an end to violence in the North, on "bended knee" was very emotional and won grudging respect from many unionists

[Nigel White]

So you were in Dubln and Galway?

[T Fearon]

No.I was in Dublin,but watched the mass in Galway live on BBC NI.