RTE are looking for John Paul!
Dear Sir,
ARE you a John Paul? Is your friend, spouse or son?
The producers of a new RTÉ One documentary want to hear from people who were named after the 1979 papal visit. What has your name meant to you? Which events have marked the watershed moments in your life? Is Pope Francis’ visit a date in your diary or of no interest?
With Pope Francis set to make a visit to a 21st century Ireland in August 2018, this documentary profiles the generation of men who were named after the momentous visit of John Paul II in 1979. One in 10 baby boys born in 1980 were named John Paul after the pontiff ’s historic visit, which saw a quarter of the Irish population congregate at the Phoenix Park for his opening Mass.
Now aged 38, where are the John Pauls and what can their lives tell us about Irish society now, what we value and where we are heading? The John Pauls were 10 years old for Italia 90, 28 when the economy collapsed, 35 when the marriage equality referendum was passed. They’ve been 80s kids, Celtic Cubs, Generation X and now the Squeezed Middle: their life stories mark four decades of change and insights into the country’s future.
If you’re a JP or you know a JP, contact us.