Galway to play at Croke Park... Sir James in the line-up for Pope’s visit

SIR James Galway is in line to perform for Pope Francis during his visit to the Republic in August, it was reported last night.

The Irish Independent said that the Belfast-born flautist will join Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and performers from Riverdance in the line-up of artists at the World Meeting of Families’ festival at Croke Park on August 25.

Riverdance was first showcased at the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest and wowed audiences with the skills of dance duo Michael Flatley and Jean Butler, performing to an uplifting score by Bill Whelan.

Since then the show is believed to have been seen by as many as 25 million people in more than 450 venues around the world.

Up to 15,000 overseas visitors from 114 countries are booked to attend the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) in Dublin between August 21 and 26.

A spokeswoman for WMOF

Sir James Galway will perform for the Pope, the Irish Independent reported

2018 said: “Festival of Families in Croke Park will be one of the highlights of the World Meeting of Families 2018.

“It will have a great line-up of community-based artists as well as some well-known local and international artists.”

However, Brenda Drumm added: “We plan to release full details of the Festival of Families event shortly.

“Until then any reference to any particular acts or artists is speculative.”

It is believed the full programme is almost ready to be unveiled and may be launched next week or, at the latest, the week afterwards.

In a previous interview, World Meeting of Families organisers said: “We want people to leave uplifted by the music and the presence of the Pope and the prayerful atmosphere.”

The 81-year-old Pontiff is not expected to attend the full two hours, but will leave after about an hour.