In 1979 Pope John Paul II visited Ireland. It was a huge event in the life of the country and seemed to solidify the position of the Catholic Church in the nation. Events in the years after shook the faith that people had in the institution and the results in recent referenda on same-sex marriage and abortion show that the impact of that visit was much weaker than thought.
On the eve of Pope Francis visit it’s a good opportunity to relive that time. How much about the Papal visit and other significant events of 1979 do you know?
