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24th Aug 2018

A full-sized crochet version of Pope Francis has been set up in Knock Airport

Kate Demolder

Crochet Pope Francis

It’s all happening in Knock.

Unless you’ve been living under a substantially large rock for several months, you’ll know that His Holiness Pope Francis will be travelling to Ireland for the two-day trip this weekend, to venture to the Catholic World Meeting of Families event held in various locations across Dublin city centre.

During his time here, the Pontiff will be spending most of his visit in the capital – however, part of his trip will see him travel by plane to the Knock shrine in County Mayo.

And, on arrival, the Pope will be made feel right at home – as a life-sized crochet version of his 81-year-old self, complete with vestments, has been handcrafted and propped up in the airport especially for him.

You don’t see that every day.

The piece was created as a passion project by master crocheters Teresa Hughes, Jacintha Mc Donald, Máire Ní Fhearraigh and Helen Burke from Ballavary, County Mayo.

The four women – who meet on Thursday evenings at the Stitch after Stitch wool and fabric clothing alteration shop in the Mayo town – put the piece together, quite incredibly, without a pattern.

The project, believed to be the first of its kind, took the ladies some 80 days to complete.

And they’re not just hoping to catch the eye of the Pontiff with their creation – they’re also looking to do some good.

According to the four women, they are hoping to raise money for a number of charities, including the poor of the Third World and research into neurological conditions including Chronic New Daily Persistent Headache Syndrome, from which one of the women suffers.

After its stint at Knock Airport, their crocheted version of Pope Francis will be on view in the shop until September.

Main image via @AfterWool