The Pope's visit to Dublin - 26th August 2018

Scroll down to see a selection of images.

Fig.1 Floe Davis and her placard outside the 'Monastery of our Lady of Charity of Refuge Convent & Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.

Fig.1 Floe Davis and her placard outside the 'Monastery of
our Lady of Charity of Refuge Convent & Magdalene
Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.

I participated in the ‘Stand for Truth’ parade on the day the Pope visited Dublin and celebrated mass in the Phoenix Park. This parade became the focus for diverse groups and individuals protesting hypocrisies and unresolved crimes committed by the Catholic Church. The parade extended from the General Post Office (G.P.O), to the garden of Remembrance and then to Our Lady of Charity of Refuge convent and Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street.

I photographed the placards and the people who carried them. I really liked the individually made placards, they expressed values, identity, political commentary, feelings of hurt, solidarity, sadness, courage, empathy, anger, compassion in an open direct and often humorous public way that was at odds with the culture of deference, conformity, fear and shame that was so pervasive on our island.

I wanted to photograph this parade as the day seemed important in so much as the visit got considerably less support from the Irish public than the visit in 1979. It was passively boycotted with attendances at the event in the Phoenix park considerably lower than expectations. The ‘Stand for Truth’ parade offered a more direct way to protest at the presence of the Pope and crimes against humanity committed by the Catholic Church.

The photographs follow the movement of the parade as it moved from location to location through the city

Click on images to enlarge

Fig.2 Sincere statements painted to look like posters for Horror movie. These paintings could be framed and hung on a wall. Leea and Adeline Berry on the 'Stand for Truth' parade outside the G.P.O on O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Fig.2 Sincere statements painted to look like posters for Horror movie. These paintings could be framed and
hung on a wall. Leea and Adeline Berry on the 'Stand for Truth' parade outside the G.P.O on O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Fig.3 A couple outside the General Post Office (G.P.O) holding up placards with thought provoking and playful statements.

Fig.3 A couple outside the General Post Office (G.P.O) holding up placards with thought provoking and playful statements.

Fig.4 People gathered outside the G.P.O on O'Connell Street. They went out of their way to attend and bring placards made from whatever was available.

Fig.4 People gathered outside the G.P.O on O'Connell Street. They went out of their way
to attend and bring placards made from whatever was available.

Fig.5 Outside the General Post Office (G.P.O), Dublin. People contesting meanings and choosing to live as they wish.

Fig.5 Outside the General Post Office (G.P.O), Dublin.
People contesting meanings and choosing to live
as they wish.

Fig.6 Walking from the G.P.O on O'Connell Street towards
the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square.

Fig.6 Walking from the G.P.O on O'Connell Street towards
the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square.

Fig.7 Tim Leech (left) and Andrea Murray (right)outside the G.P.O on O'Connell Street on the

Fig.7 Tim Leech (left) and Andrea Murray (right)
outside the G.P.O on O'Connell Street on the

Fig.8 Protestors at the top of O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Fig.8 Protestors at the top of O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Fig.9 Outside the General Post Office (G.P.O) on O'Connell Street. People contesting toxic teachings and beliefs.

Fig.9 Outside the General Post Office (G.P.O) on O'Connell Street. People contesting toxic teachings and beliefs.

Fig.10 So many lies and evasions and half-truths.

Fig.10 So many lies and evasions and half-truths.

Fig.11

Fig.12 Nil failte ansoe'' means, Not welcome here.

Fig.12 "Níl fáilte anseo" means, Not welcome here.

Fig.13 On Parnell Square East, people with placards with messages about truth and injustice.

Fig.13 On Parnell Square East, people with placards with messages about truth and injustice.

Fig.14 People carrying placards highlighting unresolved crimes walking on Parnell Square East.

Fig.14 People carrying placards highlighting unresolved crimes walking on Parnell Square East.

Fig.15 Outside the Garden of Remembrance looking down towards O'Connell Street. People holding banners that publicly highlight unresolved issues and crimes.

Fig.15 Outside the Garden of Remembrance looking down towards O'Connell Street.
People holding banners that publicly highlight unresolved issues and crimes.

Fig.16 'Human not Heathen', at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square, Dublin.

Fig.16 'Human not Heathen', at the Garden of
Remembrance on Parnell Square, Dublin.

Fig.2

Fig.17 The parade passes back down along Parnell Square
East. Some people write the names of women who were
enslaved in the Magdalene Laundries and
the length of their time there.

Fig.18 Colm O'Gorman talks to the assembled outside the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Fig.18 Colm O'Gorman talks to the assembled outside the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Fig.19 As the parade passed from O'Connell Street into Cathal Brugha Street. Jesus appears carrying a banner with the message, "The Pope does not speak for me".

Fig.19 As the parade passed from O'Connell Street into Cathal Brugha Street. Jesus appears
carrying a banner with the message, "The Pope does not speak for me".

The parade passes the now redundant anglican 'Church of Saint Thomas and Saint George' on
Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin.

Fig.20 The parade passes the now redundant anglican 'Church of Saint Thomas and Saint George' on Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin.

Fig.21 Andrea Murray holding up her placard outside Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Sean McDermott Street.

Fig.22 Holding the banner on the left is Michael Farragher with Michael Flaherty on the right.
Michael Flaherty is a survivor of the Tuam Home. In the centre is Michael Flaherty's wife.

Fig.23 Participants on the Stand for Truth Parade wrote
testimonies and messages of solidarity on white sheets
that were pegged up outside the former convent and
Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin.

Fig.23 Participants on the Stand for Truth Parade wrote
testimonies and messages of solidarity on white sheets
that were pegged up outside the former convent and
Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin.

Fig.2

Fig.24 Art on the railings outside the former 'Monastery
of our Lady of Charity of Refuge Convent and Magdalene
Laundry', on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.

Fig.25 Mary Smith holding her banner and a pair of baby's boots outside the former convent and
Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin.

Fig.25 Mary Smith holding her banner and a pair of baby's boots outside the former convent and
Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin.

Fig.26 Participants on the Stand for Truth Parade wrote testimonies and messages of solidarity on white sheets that were pegged up outside the former convent and Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin

Fig.26 Participants on the Stand for Truth Parade wrote testimonies and messages of solidarity on white sheets
that were pegged up outside the former convent and Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin.

Fig.27 Colm O'Gorman outside the entrance to the Monastery of the Sisters of Charity of Refuge Convent.
Behind him is one of the sheets upon which participants on the parade wrote messages of support and solidarity.

Fig.27 Colm O'Gorman outside the entrance to the Monastery of the Sisters of Charity of Refuge Convent.
Behind him is one of the sheets upon which participants on the parade wrote messages of support and solidarity.

Fig.28 Evocative objects were attached to the railings outside the former 'Monastery of our Lady of Charity of Refuge Convent and Magdalene Laundry', on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.

Fig.28 Evocative objects were attached to the railings outside the former 'Monastery of our Lady of
Charity of Refuge Convent and Magdalene Laundry', on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.