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Pope Francis is due to attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin next week and a Killarney-based company has been playing a key role as official logistics provider for the event.

Under the guidance of Managing Director Niall Thompson, Interflow Logistics is using all of its expertise in the complexity of international freight forwarder and transport arrangements to ensure that all elements of the various events for the World Meeting of Families arrive on site in Dublin without a hitch.

The World Meeting of Families is a huge occasion. Upwards of 40 volunteers for have been working industriously to make up no fewer than 44,000 pilgrim bags for shipping to the RDS ahead of the opening ceremony, as well as sorting and packing more than 3,000 vestments for the occasion.

Tickets for all of the events have been booked - indeed, by midnight on the first day of booking, some 353,874 people had booked tickets for the WMOF 2018 Closing Mass in Phoenix Park on Sunday August 26, where Pope Francis will be the main celebrant. The Pope will also attend the previous days Festival of Families in Croke Park, a celebration of family life in music, song, dance and spoken word.

The Festival in and of itself is a gargantuan undertaking, involving an orchestra of over 50 musicians; more than 700 Irish sean nós and contemporary dancers, including 500 from Irish dance schools across the country; a 1,000-strong choir; 100 community groups; and 300 flag bearers. Performers include Andrea Bocelli, The Riverdance Troupe, Nathan Carter, Dana Masters, Daniel O’Donnell, Celine Byrne, The Begley Family, Holy Family Deaf Choir & Deaftones, Patrick Bergin, The Priests, Paddy Moloney, Bridgie and Missy Collins, and Moya Brennan.

It has also been confirmed that the O’Neill Sisters from Causeway will perform for the pontiff. The O'Neills, who received worldwide acclaim following their online cover of the Irish classic Red is the Rose, will be familiar to the people of Killarney; the talented sisters have a show with Celtic Steps at the Killarney Racecourse every Saturday night at 8.30pm.