POPE’S VISIT TO GALWAY

Source: Contact Magazine, 1980

Author: Muriel Nolan

Due to its close proximity to Ballybrit, Athenry was one of the towns asked to provide a “rest stop” for 6,000 youths from the Derry diocese on the memorable occasion of Pope John Paul’s visit to Ireland in September ’79.. The mind boggles at the thought of 6,000 people in the small town of Athenry and it must be admitted that the organising committee was slightly daunted at first. However, the Redemptorist Fathers at Esker and the Sacred Heart Missionaries at Moyne Park/Coolarne with generosity reminiscent of the monasteries of ancient times, opened their doors to the pilgrims and accommodated almost half of the contingent within the monasteries and in marquees on the grounds.

To cater for the other 3,000 youth in Athenry posed a big problem. Mellowes Agricultural College was most generous in placing its fine accommodation and modern facilities at their disposal, as indeed were all the school in Athenry.

As this would not absorb all the group, it was decided to ask the people of Athenry and the environs to take some of the youth into their homes on the Saturday night; they responded with the generosity, which is so characteristic of the people of Athenry. Such support was very heartening for the local committee and was very much appreciated by the youth leaders and priests from Derry, who visited the town on a number of occassions prior to the Papal visit.

Spiritual preparations were being made by the youth in their home parishes in the weeks prior to the visit and it was arranged that some time would be given to community prayers during their stop at Athenry. It was important for this reason to keep then in large groups and minimize their re-organisation into buses and

cars in the middle of the night. 

The Mart, with its huge parking facilities, public address system, and catering department was able to accommodate 1,700. The management and staff of the Mart did trojan work in preparation for the influx; all the youth were in two centres in Athenry, namely the Mart and Mellows College.

September 29th dawned and all Ireland watched the moving arrival of the Holy Father on Irish soil. How we would have liked to follow the scenes on television: instead preparations for our pilgrims had to be finalised. Advance parties from Derry had erected Marquees the day before, aided by local helpers. Travel routes had already been worked out with the Gardai and four cars met the contingent at Mountbellew and led them to their particular venue. Members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce had decorated the town and the Papal Flags in every house added to the festive appearance of the town, as the local people waved a welcome to the long procession of buses and cars full of smiling and happy young people from the North.

They had a meal on arrival and were allotted their “resting place” by their youth leaders. As the weather was favourable, a prayer service in the open air was conducted by their priests. The youthful voices accompanied by their guitars filled the night and proclaimed in prayer and song the joy and happiness all Irish people were experiencing that week-end. Then followed a few hours well earned rest; flasks were re-filled for the long day ahead, thanks to the huge tankards of boiling water supplied by the Creamery.

By 4am the Derry youth were on the road to Ballybrit followed by the Athenry, pilgrims, all of us having experienced in a tangible way our christian brotherhood.

That friendship was renewed recently; members :of the Organising Committee in Athenry were invited for a week-end to Derry by the Derry Youth Council. At a reception held in their honour, Dr. Daly. Bishop of Derry, on behalf of the Youth Council of Derry Diocese presented a memento of the Pope’s visit, cut in Tyrone Crystal to Fr. Flannery, as a token of appreciation to the people of Athenry for the marvellous reception given to the youth of Derry

Mass was offered on the following day for the people of Athenry parish by Fr. Doherty of Creggaun Parish, Derry, and was attended by many of the youth who had stayed in Athenry last September. Perhaps in the future the youth of both parishes will renew the friendship forged by the visit of Poe John Paul to Ballybrit.

Muriel Nolan.

ATHENRY AND THE PAPAL VISIT

Source: Contact Magazine, December 1979

Author: Unknown

Missionaries both lay and religious have left Athenry and its surrounding areas for all parts of the globe in the last one hundred years. And when the greatest missionary of our time Pope John Paul II visited this island, it was fitting that people from the Athenry area were to the fore once again.

On the Pontiff’s arrival at Dublin Airport one of his first duties was to inspect a guard of honour. He was invited to do so by Captain Stephen Cloonan, son of Mr and Mrs. J. W. Cloonan Tiaquin.

At the youth mass in Galway, where people representing all walks of life were presented at the offertory,  Michael and Kathleen Morrissey and their son David represented family life. The family were presented with their rosaries from John Paul II. 

Sheilann Monaghan of Old Church St. Athenry, was one of one hundred youths who received holy communion from the Pontiff. 

Martina Cleary, Abbey Row was a member of the Castle Singers who performed at the departure ceremonies at Shannon Airport.

Fr. John Flannery was the organiser of the Tuam diocese for the youth mass. There were also many local people who acted as stewards at the Mass. These stewards took up position at Ballybritt at midnight on Saturday night, and remained there long after the end of the Mass.

Freda Mc Gough covered the first day of the Pope’s visit on R.T.E. Radio I and also covered the departure from Shannon Airport for the same station. 

At Knock Jimmy Kearns, Ena O’Grady, Sr. Carmella, Sr. Vincent and Sr. Colette were members of the Tuam diocesan choir that sang at the ceremonies.

The Papal visit was one of the milestones in Ireland’s history and it was good to see so many of our locals play a prominent part.