Opinion

Huge numbers from north plan pilgrimage to Dublin

Many pilgrims from Northern Ireland made the journey to Glasgow in September 2010 to see Pope Benedict XVI. Picture by Hugh Russell
Many pilgrims from Northern Ireland made the journey to Glasgow in September 2010 to see Pope Benedict XVI. Picture by Hugh Russell Many pilgrims from Northern Ireland made the journey to Glasgow in September 2010 to see Pope Benedict XVI. Picture by Hugh Russell

IT may be five months away but already anticipation is building for the first visit to Ireland by a Pope for almost 40 years.

Shortly after it was confirmed yesterday that Pope Francis will be in Dublin on August 25/26, those hoping to make the journey began making plans, including bookings for hotels and B&Bs.

With no trip north of the border announced at this stage, huge numbers are expected to make the pilgrimage to Phoenix Park where an open-air Mass will be celebrated.

During the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, enormous crowds greeted him everywhere he went.

He had hoped to include a stop in Armagh in his itinerary, but plans were cancelled following the murders of Lord Mountbatten in Co Sligo and 18 British soldiers outside Warrenpoint in Co Down.

The Pope instead celebrated Mass for 300,000 people at Killineer near Drogheda in Co Louth.

On his return to Dublin, he was met by 750,000 people as he travelled in his open-top popemobile through the city centre.

I witnessed similar scenes in Glasgow in 2010 when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated an open-air Mass for 70,000 people in Bellahouston Park, during the first state visit by a pope to the UK.

Large numbers of people from Northern Ireland made the journey then, with many fearing it may be their only chance to attend such an event.

I have memories of a holy and emotional occasion and remember the special feeling when Pope Benedict passed nearby me in the popemobile.

Now, with Pope Francis about to visit Ireland, I am among those hoping he will venture north because to attend Mass celebrated by the leader of the Catholic Church on home soil really would be special.

If that doesn't happen, I will happily be among the many, many pilgrims making the journey to Dublin - who knows, it may never happen again in my lifetime.