Pope Francis to bless Mary McAleese Bridge over Boyne during Irish visit

Published: Sun 1 Apr 2018, 12:06 AM

Last updated: Sun 1 Apr 2018, 1:11 AM

Speculation is rife that Pope Francis is to visit Drogheda as part of his World Meeting of Families visit in August.
It is understood that the Pope will follow in the footsteps of St John Paul II and make a visit to the north east, as his predecessor did when he visited the Louth part of the Archdiocese of Armagh in 1979.
Sources say Pope Francis wishes to make a gesture towards the Northern Ireland Peace Process, especially as the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement is being marked this year.
He has therefore decided to bless the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge close to the Battle of the Boyne site on the Louth-Meath border.
The bridge crosses the river Boyne close to the Battle of the Boyne museum at Oldbridge, famously visited by Ian Paisley when he was Northern Ireland First Minister.

The Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge

“It is hoped that this would have a two-fold effect,” a Vatican insider said.
“It would reach out to those who suffered during the Troubles in the North, by visiting the site of the battle which caused the centuries-long divide.
“But it would also be a reaching out to the former president of Ireland, who was so unceremoniously snubbed by the Vatican for the recent International Women’s Day Conference.”
Pope Francis is apparently well aware of Mrs McAleese’s close associations with the Irish hierarchy, going back to her involvement as their representative at the New Ireland Forum in 1984, and he is anxious that bridges be built with Mrs McAleese, who wrote to him to ask why she was barred.
She also has been at the centre of the recent controversy over Fr Malachy Finnegan, accused of child abuse, when she revealed her brother had been physically abused by the priest at St Colman’s College in Newry. Bishop John McAreavey of Dromone has resigned over his handling of the affair.
Mrs McAleese and her husband Martin were key players in bringing different strands of the Northern groups together during their presidency.
The planned trip is unlikely to impress those bishops disappointed that the Pope is not visiting the North, such as Bishop Alan McGuckian of Raphoe and Donal McKeown of Derry. it might not satisfy Mary McAleese either, who wants him to visit Newry following the Finnegan revelations.
However, it will be a highlight for the Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, as he prepares to retire. To welcome the Pope to his diocese will be a fitting end to his years of service which began as a note taker at the Second Vatican council under Pope John XXIII.
Bishop Smith could not be contacted for comment tonight as he was involved in the Easter ceremonies in Mullingar.

It is not known if Meath man Archbishop Paul Tighe, a key member of the Vatican communications corp, had any involvement in the planning of the Boyne visit.