As preparartions continue for the papal visit to Ireland the itinerary for Pope John Paul II is announced.
Pope John Paul II will be the first pope ever to set foot in Ireland. The pope is due to arrive in Dublin shortly before 10 am tomorrow.
At Dublin Ariport Pope John Paul II will be metby President Patrick Hillery, Taoiseach Jack Lynch and other dignitaries before inspecting a guard of honour.
It's thought likely that the first the Pope will do after getting off the plane will be to kneel down and kiss the ground.
The pope will stay at the Papal Nuncio on the Navan Road for two nights. On Sunday morning, Pope John Paul II will meet members of the Polish community on the back lawn of the Papal Nuncio.
Over a million people are then expected to attend the papal mass at the Phoenix Park with millions more throughout the world watching and listening on television and radio.
The event will be the biggest feat of organisation in the history of the state.
Following the mass, Pope John Paul II will be driven through the park in the popemobile, a special high car adapted to allow the congregation to see the pontiff.
The pope will then travel by helicopter to Drogheda for an open-air liturgical ceremony. On his return to Dublin a motorcade will take the pope through the city centre before meeting the President at Áras on Uachtaráin. On Sunday, there will be a private visit to the ancient monastery of Clonmacnoise in County Offaly.
A mass for young people will take place on at the racecourse in Galway. From Galway, Pope John Paul II will go to Knock which is celebrating its centenary year for an open air mass.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 28 September 1979. The reporter is Michael Walsh.
