Ireland West Airport at Knock says its fully equipped to cater for a papal visit.
But a spokesman says reports of the Pope arriving there next August is ‘speculation’ at this stage.
Media reports this morning say Pope Francis will begin his visit to Ireland by arriving at the airport, raising the possibility of a Papal Mass in the nearby Marian Shrine at Knock.
It’s almost 40 years ago since the last papal visit to Knock; that was when Pope John Paul II came in 1979, which he described at the time as the goal of his journey to Ireland.
Pope Francis, who’s 81, is coming to Ireland in August for the World Meeting of Families in Croke Park and there’s also speculation he’ll visit Mountjoy Prison and the Capuchin Day Centre, in Dublin.
Donal Healy, head of marketing at Ireland West Airport, spoke to Ocean FM’s Harry Keaney earlier this morning:
Meanwhile, the parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons, told the North West Today Show there’s there’s been no confirmation so far of a Papal visit to the area:
