Pope John Paul II visits Galway

Pope John-Paul II visited Galway in October 1979 and St. Patrick’s Band together with the Patrician Boys Band performed alongside the altar for a worldwide audience at the Mass in Ballybrit.

“Young people of Ireland, I love you” was the Pope’s famous phrase. The following year in September 1980 those words were adapted by Joe Connolly Captain of the Galway hurlers in his famous speech when accepting the Liam McCarthy Cup after winning the All Ireland Hurling Final... “People of Galway we love you”.

The Band paraded the team home to Galway and was caught up in hectic and dangerous scenes in Eyre Square as thousands arrived in the early hours to welcome home their heroes.