1932 Eucharistic Congress

In Chicago there was the "enthusiasm of the Americans"; in Rome "the everlasting glory of the church"; in Spain "the love of beauty and gallantry of the Spanish"; in Carthage "the memory of the martyrs."

These were De Grasse, Doric, Dresden, Duchess of Bedford, Marnix van Sint Aldegonde, Rio Bravo and Sierra Cordoba.

The Blue Hussars, a ceremonial cavalry unit of the Irish Army formed to escort the President of Ireland (from 1938 to 1948) on state occasions first appeared in public as an honour guard for the visiting papal legate representing Pope Pius XI.

[1] John McCormack, the world famous Irish tenor, sang César Franck's Panis angelicus at the Mass.

The men and women of long ago ... from the high place in Heaven won by their heroic piety ... must have looked down upon this glorious scene with serene happiness and benediction.The English Catholic writer G. K. Chesterton was also present, and observed: "I confess I was myself enough of an outsider to feel flash through my mind, as the illimitable multitude began to melt away towards the gates and roads and bridges, the instantaneous thought 'This is Democracy; and everyone is saying there is no such thing.

A flag designed for the Congress that was carried to various ceremonies during the event. [ 3 ] [ 4 ]
Pope Pius XI giving the message for the International Eucharistic Congress in 1932.
House in Waterford city decorated in honour of the Congress