Every year, on Christmas Day, a ritual takes place at Dublin Airport. A priest brings a chalice to the airfield and blesses the planes.
This religious ceremony is now in the airport's sights for security reasons. Many accuse activist John Hamill, former head of Atheist Ireland, of being behind the change. The latter indeed asks to organize a more inclusive ceremony. The ceremony dates back to the summer of 1947. Originally, it only concerned the planes of the Irish airline Aer Lingus. Over the years, this blessing has extended to all aircraft. But faced with the increase in air traffic, the ceremony was moved to December 25, the only day of the year when Dublin Airport closes its doors. In the past, planes were blessed individually, but given the explosion in the number of aircraft, grace is now given from the tarmac. “Nowadays, the annual blessing is ecumenical and covers the entire fleet,” explained Graeme McQueen, spokesperson for airport manager DAA.