Media Information for the Visit of Pope Francis

Pope Francis will visit Ireland on 25 and 26 August for the World Meeting of Families 2018. Please find below some initial useful information regarding media accreditation and facilities for this visit.

Further information will be available to accredited media closer to the event. If you have any queries about this visit, please contact us – all contact details are provided below.

Information notes, images and videos relating to the visit of Pope Francis are available here

The media opportunities for the Visit of Pope Francis are as follows:

Saturday 25 August

Sunday 26 August

The full itinerary is available here.

Media accreditation is now closed.

Please note that you will be required to upload a copy of your passport and your NUJ/PPAI media identification or international equivalent – failure to provide this information will result in your application being refused.

Each person who would like to attend media events for this Visit, including all technicians and support staff, will be required to accredit individually by 6 July.

Only accredited media can avail of the media facilities for the Visit of Pope Francis. For security and simplicity there will be a single source of accreditation, which once cleared, will gain you access to both the Visit of Pope Francis facilities and the World Meeting of Families events. There will be separate badging for the Visit of Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families events.

The main Media Centre for the visit of Pope Francis is based in Dublin Castle (Monday 20 August to Saturday 25 August) and in the Phoenix Park (Sunday 26 August) to facilitate media covering the final Mass.

There will be a filing room in Knock to facilitate media covering this aspect.

There will also be separate media facilities including filing rooms in Croke Park and the RDS, facilitated by the World Meeting of Families. Please contact Email for World Meeting of Families for the technical facilities being provided at these locations.

Facilities in Dublin Castle and Phoenix Park include:

• Full Security Check
• Media Accreditation Badge Collection Point for the Visit of Pope Francis
• Work Stations
• Edit Suites (limited number)
• Small internal areas for pieces to camera
• WiFi
• Media Information Desk to assist with any queries
• Café with all day tea, coffee and light refreshments
• Permanent Fáilte Ireland Tourism Desk for advice on where to go, what to eat nearby, places to visit etc.
• Live Stand-Up Positions – more information below
• Commentary boxes (Phoenix Park only) – more information below
• Studio space (Phoenix Park only) – more information below
• SNG/Uplink Parking – more information below
• Play Out Facility – more information below
• IP Based Technology Transmission – more information below
• Dedicated telecommunication lines for broadcast – more information below

The Irish Government will be managing and assigning these facilities through a dedicated bookings and reservation facility service, to ensure the best and most comprehensive coverage to all media. The facilities will be offered at a set rate card and on a first come first served basis. Further details are available by contacting Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister. Please note that bookings needs to be completed by 6 July.

Live Stand Up Positions

• There will be a number of covered live ‘Stand Up’ positions in Dublin Castle and Phoenix Park for use, subject to access.
• Stand Up Positions will be allocated on a first come first served basis to broadcasters, networks and agencies at either/both Media Centres. EBU will have six fully equipped live stand up positions.
• Each Stand Up Position will be provided with a 16A power connection for equipment and lighting.
• WiFi available at the Stand Up positions.
• Adjacent (100m) SNG parking ensures quick connectivity to own satellite, network, agency or European Broadcasting Union (EBU) transmission.
• A feed of the Host Broadcaster World signal can be distributed to individual ‘Stand Up’ positions by EBU on a cost recovery basis.
• ‘Stand Up’ positions at either/both locations can be booked directly with Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister by 6 July.

Studio space

• Studio space is available at the Phoenix Park media centre upon request. Please contact Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister by 6 July who will provide the rate card information for this service.

Commentary boxes

• Dedicated enclosed Commentary Boxes are available at the Phoenix Park media centre upon request. Please contact Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister by 6 July who will provide the rate card information for this service.

SNG/Uplink Parking

• There are a limited number of SNG/Up Link parking places available at both Dublin Castle and Phoenix Park. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis – please book directly with Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister by 6 July.
• Host Broadcaster World Feed signals in HD/SD with embedded audio, will be available to accredited broadcasters from the EBU distribution point within the SNG parking area at both Dublin Castle and Phoenix Park.
• Each parking position will be supplied with a 32amp single phase power connection. (Alternative single or three phase connection can be arranged by prior arrangement when booking).

Play Out Facility

• EBU will provide Playout in SDI via BNC connector (clients own camera or player) from their uplink vehicle in the SNG park.

IP Based Technology Transmission

• Broadcasters intending to use LiveU or similar IP based technology equipment for live connection via bonded Cellular, WiFi, or LAN to their home stations are advised to book dedicated circuits with their preferred Irish independent service provider to ensure connectivity.
• Please note that augmented public cellular and WiFi connection cannot be guaranteed at such crowded events.

Dedicated telecommunication lines for broadcast

• For those wishing to have dedicated telecommunication lines (DSL, ISDN) for programme contribution or communications, TV and Radio *Broadcasters should book circuits directly with their preferred Irish independent service provider. The nominated provider and location of these lines should be pre-advised to Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister by 6 July.

Security screening will be required for attendance at all events. To facilitate this, transport will be provided from the Media Centre at Dublin Castle to all locations throughout the visit. The only way for media to access programme locations will be through the Dublin Castle Media Centre.

To access the Media Centre in the Phoenix Park on Sunday morning, 26 August, media must convene in Dublin Castle for security clearance, following which transport will be provided directly to the Phoenix Park Media Centre. Timings will be confirmed closer to the visit.

Satellite trucks will also require security screening at an off-site location. More information will be provided once a parking space is booked with Ken McAllister at Mail to Ken McAllister by 6 July.

The Host Broadcaster for this Visit is RTÉ, Ireland’s National Broadcaster. RTÉ will supply the EBU, worldwide broadcasters and news agencies with a clean international signal of coverage for the Visit. The Host Broadcaster will provide multi-camera live coverage (where possible) of the Visit. Where live coverage is not possible recorded pictures will be fed to broadcasters as soon as they become available.

For more information, please contact Margaret Bennett, RTÉ at Email of margaret Bennett, RTE or at +353 86 6043923.

Media accreditation

Email for Press Accreditation, Department of Foreign Affairs

Host broadcaster

Margaret Bennett, Special Events, RTE

Email of Margaret Bennett, RTE

Booking technical media facilities: Dublin Castle, Phoenix Park, Knock

Mail to Ken McAllister

Information on the technical media facilities at Croke Park and RDS

Email of Work Meeting of Families

Media queries: World Meeting of Families

Email of Work Meeting of Families

Media queries: Irish Government

Email of Irish Government Press Office