Blessings: Pope John Paul II meets the gathered crowds with Cardinal Ó Fiaich in Phoenix Park

The late Paddy Levin with Pope John Paul II in 1979

The crowds in the Phoenix Park during the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979

Pope John Paul II arriving in Phoenix Park during his visit in 1979.

Seminarians reaching out to touch Pope John Paul II in Maynooth College in 1979.

Pope John Paul II reading on the flight from Rome to Dublin flown by Capt Thomas McKeown on September 29, 1979

POPE JOHN PAUL II ARRIVES IN THE PHOENIX PARK IN DUBLIN, 1979, BY HELICOPTER.

Faithful: After the Pope’s September 1979 visit (pictured), John Paul became the name of choice for many newborn boys

Liz Jackson and Russell Gleeson presenting flowers to Pope John Paul II at Dublin Airport upon his arrival in Ireland in 1979.

Liz Jackson and Russell Gleeson presenting flowers to Pope John Paul II at Dublin Airport upon his arrival in Ireland in 1979.

Pope John Paul 11 kisses the ground on arrival at Dublin airport at the start of his Papal visit ,September 1979.Pic Tom Burke

Pope John Paul II during the Papal visit to the Phoenix Park.

Pope John Paul II waves as he boards an Aer Lingus flight at Shannon Airport following his visit to Ireland on October 01, 1979. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)

In Pictures: Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland in 1979 Close

Pope Francis will be the first Pontiff to visit Ireland since Pope John Paul II almost 40 years ago, in 1979.

Over 2.5 million people visited Pope John Paul II during his trip to events organised in Dublin, Drogheda, Clonmacnoise, Knock, Maynooth, Limerick and Galway.

Dr Patrick Hillery was the President of a very different Ireland at the time. According to reports, a massive 10pc of baby boys were named John Paul in 1980, the year after the Papal visit.

Fast forward to 2018, Pope Francis is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.

He confirmed to Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Vatican today that he would come to Ireland.

It is widely expected the Pope will travel here for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018.

See photographs of the previous Papal visit above

Online Editors