In September 1979, Pope John Paul II became the first pope in history to visit Ireland. The then 57-year-old pontiff touched down at Dublin airport on the morning of September 29th 1979, where he was met by the Irish president, Dr Patrick Hillery and a host of religious leaders. Before travelling to Drogheda he was flown to Phoenix Park in Dublin where he delivered an open-air sermon to more than 1.25 million people - nearly a third of Ireland's entire population, the largest gathering of Irish people in history. He told the people why he felt called to visit Ireland and the Irish. He reminded the crowd of how St Patrick heard the "voice of the Irish" and came to help us. So did he. "Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Like St. Patrick, I too have heard "the voice of the Irish" Later that day, he was met by a crowd of over 300,000 in Drogheda, Co. Louth. Preparations had been taking place for weeks. The entire Dublin police force had all leave cancelled for the duration of the visit, bunting in the papal colours of yellow and white had been hung across country and people have travelled from all over the country to catch a glimpse of the dynamic Polish priest. The rest of his trip included a visit to Galway and the Marian shrine at Knock in County Mayo where he was met by an estimated audience of almost 500,000 people. The following day he travelled to visit St Patrick's College at Maynooth and then, by helicopter, to Limerick before leaving for Boston airport to begin a tour of the United States. Pope John Paul II's fond farewell to the Irish people: "Dia agus Muire libh! May God and Mary be with you and with the Families of Ireland, always." Presented and poduced by Derek Mooney First broadcast Sept 29th 1999. An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries