Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Twentieth Century (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
[extent not recorded]
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
14/05/2018
Content and structure area
Scope and content
An extensive collection including a hand made Papal flag; a blue flag with the symbol of the Congress painted in yellow; six various posters commemorating the Congress; The Congress News newspaper April 26, 1931; The Irish Independent Eucharistic Congress Number 1932; Irish Independent Eucharistic Congress Record 1932; a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, 15pp; Boylan, Very Rev. P. Canon, The Book of the Congress Dublin 1932; and Thirty First Eucharistic Congress Dublin, 1932 Pictorial Record; a framed photograph, 'A Million Kneel at Benediction'; a post card of Cardinal Lauri.
Spread over five days in June 1932, the 31st International Eucharistic Congress was the largest public event ever held in Ireland. Coming 1,500 years after the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland, just ten years after Irish independence and in the first year of Fianna Fail's first term in government, the stars were aligned over Roman Catholic Ireland.
On the opening night of the Congress, midnight Mass was held in every church in Dublin, while the words 'Adoramus', 'Laudamus', 'Glorificamus' were beamed into the night sky in in sky writing. At the moment the Host was elevated the church bells rang and the beams of dozens of searchlights met at one point in the heavens and formed a perfect cone”.
On the final day over a million souls attended Mass in the Phoenix Park, celebrated by Cardinal Lauri, the Papal Legate. Count John McCormack sang Panis Angelicus amplified by the most powerful public address system in the World.
