IT'S NEARLY 30 years since the last Pope came to visit Ireland, but for many people it still feels like yesterday.There they all were, in the Phoenix Park to wave at the Big Man inside his Pope-mobile.
It's the single greatest day in the lives of many many people.
Now, it seems that a new generation can look forward to having its own version of that day as the Pontiff has personally conveyed his wishes to visit Ireland to our new Cardinal, Sean Brady, at a private audience (God's presence obviously doesn't count) and you can be sure of one thing -- that the Pope is as good as his word.
Of course, these days we're much more accustomed to giving people big welcomes than we were in 1979.
We've all turned out in the Phoenix Park to see Ireland World Cup squads return home after getting knocked out of tournaments.
We've also turned out to see Michelle Smith after she won all those medals at the Atlanta Olympics, even though secretly we all suspected what was going on.
So, it's fair to say we've got our act together.
We won't be just wheeling him through the park like before. We'll guarantee him a great day's entertainment.
Plus, in the nationwide spirit of greed (which has replaced 1979's spirit of suffering), some of us will make a killing selling Pope costumes at €30 a pop.
Inside the park we'll put up a stage where the newly reunited Boyzone can tell Pope Benny that "he's bleedin' rapid".
Westlife could sing him a Barry Manilow song, and Samantha Mumba's brother, little Omera, might treat God's representative on earth to one of his rap songs.
And you wonder why it took The Vatican 30 years to come back?
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