It was announced in Quebec last week that the next Eucharistic Congress is to be held in Dublin in 2012. The announcement was made by Pope Benedict, speaking via a radio link from Rome. The first Congress was held in Paris in 1881 and whilst it was once an annual event, it is now held every four years, the location often being influenced by an anniversary occasion. For instance, the only other Congress held in Ireland was in 1932, marking 1,500 years since the coming of St Patrick to Ireland, and this year's event celebrated the 400th anniversary of the establishment of Quebec, the oldest Catholic city in North America. The year 2012, will mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and will serve as an occasion for reappraisal as well as for renewal. Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin have welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm and preparations for the event will begin before long.

There are not many people alive in Ireland today who remember the 1932 Congress, although folk memories abound. The occasion was met with indifference, and, in some cases, downright hostility by Unionists in the North. Special trains carrying pilgrims to Dublin were stoned when passing through Portadown. A bus chartered from Omagh slowed up whilst preparing to cross the Border at Aughnacloy, and the passengers, following the direction of pointing fingers of pedestrians, discovered that they had a stowaway on the roof. The stowaway was asked to come down, and was discovered to be a member of a large and ecumenically-minded Omagh family, which had representation on both sides of the house. He was asked what he was up to, and he replied that he was going to Dublin for the same reason that the rest of them were going. He was then required to make the sign of the cross. He made a valiant attempt, but as he was later to explain, "He had got the Holy Ghost on the wrong shoulder." He walked all the way back to Omagh. Such was the spirit of the times.

The weather in Dublin in that late June of 1932 was mild and warm and many people did not bother with formal accommodation, but would get a little shut-eye on park benches, and the like. One of the pilgrims who did have a lodging was Benedict Kiely, down from Omagh for the occasion and at the time not quite thirteen years of age. Ben was taking a nap in the Phoenix Park, and was awakened by a poke in the ribs from the umbrella of his brother-in-law, the Omagh musician and songwriter, Frank McCrory. Frank told Ben that he had better get along to the main processional area where his literary idol, the novelist, poet and essayist, G K Chesterton, was about to speak. Ben did so, and was later to recall the distinguished English writer carrying a pole supporting the canopy over a monstrance, with all 'the gravity of an Irish publican'. Frank McCrory was more a man for H G Wells and Bernard Shaw, but you couldn't say too much about that as a postal official in a small Irish town in the 1930s.

Chesterton was the most distinguished Catholic intellectual in the English-speaking world at the time, although a little past the peak of his creative powers. Another distinguished guest was the singer John McCormack, who had been recognised by his rival Enrico Curuso as the greatest tenor in the world. He was honoured with the title of Papal Count, and his singing of 'Panis Angelicus' was heard by up on a million people present in the Phoenix Park, and by millions worldwide who were following the proceedings on the radio. A transmission mast had been set up in the centre of Ireland at Athlone to ensure that all Ireland could be kept in touch and some years later, the station was officially known as Athlone. You can still see the name on the dials of vintage radio sets.

The Pope of the time, Pius X1, was represented by a Vatican legate, Archbishop Lorenzo Lauri, although the Pope's voice was heard in a special radio message. It is difficult to realise, in this age of modern communications, how big of an impact that papal broadcast made at the time. Innocent times.

Eamonn de Valera had first come to office as leader of the country in a General Election a few months previously. The Congress, with its many Church dignitaries from home and abroad conferred a great respectability on politicians who, just a decade earlier, had opposed the Treaty in arms, and had been considered by many as dangerous radicals, if not downright bolsheviks.

Some people are of the belief that the Dublin Congress of 2012 could provide the opportunity for a Papal visit to Ireland. There is not much precedent for this, although Pope Paul V1 visited Bombay during the Eucharistic Congress of 1964.

In evidence the divorce court heard that relations between the man and wife had begun to deteriorate after the husband's mother-in-law had moved into the family home. Matters had been amicable enough in the earlier stages but, as time went on, the husband had come to feel that he was becoming little more than a lodger in his own house. His guest was eating him out of house and home, and always sided with the wife in any domestic dispute. He endured this situation philosophically for as long as he could but, eventually, his patience snapped and, during an acrimonious exchange, he had bundled the mother-in-law out on to the street, and told her not to come back. "He felt, no doubt" said the presiding judge, "That he had kept Mum for long enough."

8,500 people in San Fransisco have signed a petition to have one of the city's wastewater treatment facilities renamed 'The George W Bush Sewage Plant'.

The proposal will go before the public as part of the elections in November and if it is carried the plant will be renamed when a new President takes office in January 2009.

Headline from Carlisle newspaper.

"Wife-beaters wait up to year for course."

A family in England are hoping for the prompt return of their Yorkshire terrier. Police believe that the dog used a child's trampoline to make his spring to freedom over a garden fence. I have hear of springer spaniels.

The sales of oranges are going down. One explanation is that people don't have time anymore to peel them.

The urbane Jonathan Dimbleby was taking calls on last Saturday's 'Any Answers?' on Radio Four.

JD: And, now, Mr Mahjoorey....?

Caller: Actually, the name is Maguire.