Moving heaven and earth to welcome Pope
Ahead of His Holiness’s visit next weekend, your diarist has a helpful guideline for certain politicians: best not shake the papal hand lest you burst embarrassingly — and more to the point, fatally — into flames.
Spontaneous combustion/instant karma aside, Patrick Bergin will be singing at the Pope’s shindig in Croke Park on Saturday. He dined a deux with his girlfriend, Helen Goldin, at Rasam, Glasthule last Tuesday night.
And, if anything was on fire, it was Patrick’s heart, with love for Ms Goldin. The couple were joined, briefly, by Tim Pat Coogan, author of Michael Collins.
Tim Pat might like to hear that a Father by the name of Michael Collins — Madonna’s favourite Irish priest and brother of the late, great architect, David Collins — will also be among those heading to Croke Park.
The incomparable John McColgan will also be attending (with 16 members of his family; wife Moya Doherty is away) but it will be something of a work do for the Riverdance founder.
“We at Tyrone Productions are honoured and pleased to have been chosen to produce the World Meeting of Families in Croke Park to welcome Pope Francis. It will be spectacular, moving, entertaining and dignified,” he said. Patricia Carroll is the executive producer, Ruan Magan is creative director, while David Brophy is music director and conductor. It’s all about Funtime Frankie this week, Christ’s vicar on earth. Not that Francis’s feet will be touching the ground much when he is in Ireland, courtesy of Raymond Leddy, head of product at Skoda Ireland, who has moved heaven and earth to keep the Pope fashionably mobile during his visit here.
“Modified glass has been installed and each vehicle has been provided in a unique navy-blue colour as requested. Small chrome flag poles have also been installed to the passengerside fenders, which will display the Vatican flag,” Raymond told your heathen correspondent.
If Raymond isn’t driven straight through the pearly gates of heaven after all this, I will eat my hat.
Or Francis’s.