Pope John Paul II's Visit to Ireland

Souvenir mug commemorating Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland in 1979, made by Arklow Pottery. 1979. Glazed earthenware with transfer print.

Glazed earthenware mug with a print of crowned 'keys to the city of Rome' in grey, yellow and burgundy on the front. Text around the top of the image says 'Pope John Paul II Visit To IRELAND' with '1979' below.

The papal visit was one of the most significant and well attended events to occur in Ireland. A witness described the Mass the pope performed as 'hysteria' and compared it to a 'rock concert'. Approximately 2.7 million people attended the masses and events to see and pray with the Pope. This mass movement of people during his five-day visit to Dublin, Drogheda, Galway, Limerick, and Knock was around a third of Ireland's population at the time.

Irish companies such as Arklow Pottery produced many souvenirs for the first papal visit to Ireland. These commemorative objects were displayed in Irish Catholic homes and sent abroad as gifts to loved ones.

Object Number: DC:1994.105

More Information:

Fanneran, Vicky (2021) Pope John Paul II's iconic seven-word Galway Racecourse phrase that changed the west forever Galway Beo [online] 2 September 2021. https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/history/pope-john-paul-iis-iconic-5839416

Ó Corráin, Daithí (2021) ‘Why did Pope John Paul II visit Ireland? The 1979 papal visit in context’. British Catholic History, 35 (4). pp. 1-24. https://doras.dcu.ie/26455/