Over half a million people but no drink
Pope’s park Mass a ‘dry event’… but jury’s out on Holy Water
‘Every Portaloo in Ireland is being brought in’
GARDAÍ have warned that there will be a zero tolerance policy to drinking on the streets of Dublin on the day of Pope Francis’s Mass in the Phoenix Park, with strict security surrounding the landmark address.
With a lengthy walk of up to several hours into the park, it is unclear how strict security will be in allowing liquids – including Holy Water – into the event.
A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘People are asked to have consideration for local residents and refrain from antisocial behaviour such as on street drinking and urinating. The Gardaí will not permit the consumption of alcohol outside public houses, while walking along the street or in any other public place.’
Details on whether attendees will be allowed to bring Holy Water will be announced closer to the event, the spokesperson said.
However, anyone hoping to enjoy the Pope’s sermon with a tipple in hand will be sorely disappointed as it, like all World Meeting of Families events, will be a ‘dry’ occasion.
One organiser explained: ‘This is a Mass. The people that are coming are pilgrims.’
Preparations are well underway for the Pope’s two-day visit on August 25 and 26.
Up to 3,000 Eucharistic ministers will be on hand to distribute Holy Communion to half a million people during the Phoenix Park Mass on August 26. They will be equipped by Dublin-based MMI Group, which will provide around 200 chalices for wine and 4,000 patens for Communion.
Five families will be selected ahead of the Mass to present the gifts of bread and wine.
Some 500,000 communion hosts have been prepared for the ceremony by the Redemptoristine Sisters of St Alphonsus Monastery in Dublin 9. Any of the 150,000 hosts – made by the Cistercian Sisters at Glencairn in Co. Waterford – left over from the RDS ceremonies will also be brought to the Phoenix Park service.
Such a large amount would usually cost tens of thousands to produce but the sisters have offered the wafers as a gift, given the importance of the occasion.
The master of ceremonies for the World Meeting of Families is Fr Damian McNeice.
Speaking with Irish Mail on Sunday, he said: ‘I’ve been involved since the word go. As soon as it was announced, I was going “uh oh”.
‘I was master of ceremonies for the Eucharistic Congress in 2012 and, to a certain extent, I thought I got away with one international liturgical event. I thought I probably wouldn’t have to do another one – only to find out this time the Pope’s coming.’
Fr McNeice continued: ‘Every Portaloo in the country is being brought in and even some from outside of the country.’
When asked if the Army would play a role in the event, he said: ‘Every statutory body is involved and most of the volunteer bodies who provide medical care are involved in one way or another.’
And in keeping with Dublin City Council stipulations, provisions are being made to include a temporary morgue on site.
Information about traffic arrangements is not as clear-cut, with further announcements to be made in the days ahead. Anyone hoping to drive to the Mass must pre-book their parking spot and pay €5 for postage and packaging of their permit, the MoS has learned.
On Friday, organisers began rolling out tickets and updating travel information for the ceremony’s 500,000 attendees. Some 14,225 car park spaces will be available at the park-and-ride hubs in UCD Belfield, Maynooth University/M3 Parkway, Leopardstown Racecourse, and Fairyhouse Racecourse. How-
ever, due to parking limitations, pilgrims are being urged to use public transport to get ‘closer to the Mass’ and reduce their walking time. It’s anticipated that ‘all spaces will be booked very quickly’ and ‘spaces will be issued on a first come, first served basis’, according to organisers.
A spokesperson for Irish Rail said a number of trains going to and from Dublin have already sold out for August 26. It expects all such journeys to be fully booked by the end of the week. Only inter-city services will be affected, with Irish Rail services in Dublin not requiring pre-booking.