Afternoon Tea with Pope John Paul II and Ray Scullion The Good Samaritan

Brace yourself for another wild ride through the streets of West Belfast in the 1970s, where faith, fire, and family chaos collide in spectacular Scullion fashion.

This episode features Raymond Scullion, better known in family folklore as “The Good Samaritan.” Unlike his fight-first, ask-questions-later siblings, Raymond was the peacemaker. The helper. The one who joined The Order of Malta—an organisation dedicated to service, charity, and (let’s be honest) scoring tickets to the best gigs and events.

So when Pope John Paul II announced his historic visit to Ireland in 1979—the first ever Papal visit to the Emerald Isle—Raymond found himself serving at the once-in-a-lifetime event.

To his mother, Bridie, this wasn’t just a big deal, it was the deal. In her eyes, her son wasn’t simply attending a Papal Mass. No, no—he was practically having afternoon tea with the Pope himself.

And if Bridie was excited, the neighbours definitely knew about it. The poor British soldiers stationed outside the Scullion home 24/7 knew about it too. Rumour has it some even requested transfers just to escape Bridie’s endless boasting about “her Raymond serving the Holy Father.”

But of course, in true Scullion style, the big day couldn’t pass without disaster. What started as Bridie’s dream of sending Raymond off with a hero’s breakfast turned into a full-blown kitchen inferno. Smoke, flames, screaming children, and a house that smelled like burnt sausages nearly derailed the whole event. By the time the fire was beaten down with cushions, towels, and sheer Scullion determination, the “Von Trapp” children of Bridie’s imagination looked more like a gang of soot-covered chimney sweeps.

Still, nothing—not even a kitchen fire—was going to stop Bridie from showing up in her best tik-man-financed dress to see the Pope. And when John Paul II finally swept into Dublin and Belfast, elevating himself to rock-star status alongside Elvis, the Bay City Rollers, and the Nolan Sisters, something miraculous happened. Out of the 2.5 million people in attendance, Bridie swore the Pope looked straight at her… smiled… nodded… and winked.

For Bridie, that wink wasn’t just recognition—it was confirmation that she was, without doubt, the Best Catholic in Ireland.

This episode is packed with humour, nostalgia, and outrageous Scullion family storytelling.

From the burning Ulster fry, to Bridie’s unstoppable delusions of grandeur, to Raymond cutting a heroic figure in his Order of Malta uniform, this story captures the heart, humour, and madness of growing up in Belfast during The Troubles.

If you’re here for darkly funny Irish family tales, a bit of Catholic guilt, a touch of history, and a whole lot of chaos, you’ll love this one.

#irishcomedy #irishpodcast #craic #belfast #irishhumor #comedy #irishfamily #podcastclips #irishmammy #storytime #irishheritage #funnyirish

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