This was the largest outdoor gathering in Europe that year – there was an audience on the day of 152,000, with a viewership of 1m people. 

The main stage at the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park was built using 3.5 tonnes of CNC’d timber, created to a custom arch. Precise planning was of paramount importance in this build as were required to build our stage on a phase by phase basis in tandem with an external team who were building the stage structure. 

The large arch structure was lifted by crane to hoist our arch as the stag was being built. The build also took place in an exposed area where wind speeds had to be carefully monitored and Quiver had to continuously plan and move around those wind conditions. Extreme care was taken throughout the production.

Quiver were approached during the stage build and asked to carry out a range of further works outside of our initial remit. We created a custom set of stairs for backstage access, a dressing room including a bathroom for the Pope, clad all of the stage surrounds and broadcast towers and delivered scenic elements such as the red carpet, grass effect and floristry. 

We were also asked by the Diocesan of Dublin to create a scaled replica model of a penal cross dating from 1763. Working with our scenic artist, we created a replica of this cross which was mounted behind the altar during the Pope’s mass at the Papal Cross. Following the event we worked with the Diocesan in hanging the replica cross as a permanent fixture in a north Dublin church.