visit to Ireland. It was only the second papal visit to Ireland ever and the first since Pope John Paul II in 1979. In his first official engagement, the Pope held private discussions in Spanish with President Higgins on issues including climate change, inequality, poverty and migration. In a speech in front of the Pope at Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach said that the history of the Catholic Church in Ireland was one of "sorrow and of shame." At St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, the Pope said a silent prayer at the Candle of Innocence to remember the survivors of clerical and institutional abuse. After a journey through the streets of Dublin, the Pope visited the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People. During a 90-minute meeting with eight Irish survivors of clerical, religious and institutional abuse, the Pope described those who covered up the abuse as "caca". The Pope ended his first day in Ireland by attending the World Meeting of Families concert at Croke Park. 25 August On the second day of his visit to Ireland, the Pope began by visiting Knock Shrine in County Mayo where he spoke about the "open wound" of clerical child sexual abuse. 1,000 people held a silent vigil in Tuam to remember the Tuam Babies, while thousands attended the Stand4Truth event in Dublin to show solidarity with victims of abuse. The Pope celebrated Mass at the Phoenix Park, however, according to an official statistic supplied by the Office of Public Works, fewer than 152,000 people attended, far short of the expected 500,000. 28 August It was announced that more than 150 post offices around the country are to close as part of a deal reached between An Post and the Irish Postmasters' Union. Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy confirmed that the Presidential Election will be held on Friday 26 October. 29 August – Businessman Seán Gallagher announced that he is going to seek a nomination to run for the presidency for a second time. 30 August Virgin Media Television was officially launched, with new channel names and identities going live and replacing the old TV3 stations. Businessman Peter Casey announced that he is seeking a nomination to contest the Presidential Election. 31 August – The American White House published a statement that Donald Trump would visit Ireland on 11 November. President Trump would visit France on the 11th as part of the