Emily Clarke, who has fronted showbands since she was a teenager, sent the Pope a CD along with a lengthy letter promoting Limerick and inviting him to visit.

Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland will inject new energy into the process of regenerating the Church, which will be beneficial for the faithful but will also prompt those who are disillusioned to look again and see it as the Church of mercy and caring that Pope Francis wants it to be.

A visit by Pope Francis would have the same impact as that of Pope John Paul II in 1979, says Cllr Pearse Flannery.