It is almost twelve months to the day since the pension was raised to €209.30 and one would imagine that such a well established financial institution would keep abreast of happenings…
 
Members of all religious denominations, and none, rejoiced at the celebrations which marked the installation of Cardinal Sean Brady last week. The thought struck me, when watching the reception on his return from Rome, if the Cardinal is paid a salary. If so, who pays the salary? It can hardly be the Diocese of Armagh who would have two such salaries to finance with Cardinal Cathal Daly, now retired, still hale and hearty.

I was the only reporter from a provincial paper to travel on the flight from Rome with the Pope and experienced the biggest fright of my life. As the Pope began his walk down the plane to greet journalists everybody on board moved to the same side. The captain pleaded for us to return to our seats because the plane was in danger of becoming unbalanced. I was about the only one who did not leave my seat because Supt Hugh Reynolds, who served in Limerick for many years, told me he would bring the Pope to my seat. He was true to his word and I had an exclusive interview with the Pope. It was also, by far, the shortest of my career. The Pope spotted my accreditation and his words were “I will see you on Monday”, which was a reference to the fact that he was coming to Greenpark Racecourse on the Monday.

Journalists travelled with the Pontiff in those days and a man from a national newspaper informed his readers in advance that he was travelling. He was inundated with medals of every shape and size to have them blessed. Unfortunately when the Pope sat beside him he put his hand in the wrong pocket and produced a fistful of coins which the Pope duly blessed!

Speaking of journalists, I recently heard one eulogising Aer Lingus for its flights to San Francisco.

He had just returned from a free junket courtesy of the company.

That is all very well. Every journalist has been taken on junkets.

But if politicians had been part of the same junket those self-same journalists would have been on the warpath decrying the practice!

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