An Post will issue two special stamps tomorrow (Thursday 6th) to celebrate the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 being held in Dublin from June 10th – 17th this year.
The 55c stamp, which covers postage up to 50g within the island of Ireland, features the Chalice and Host, illustrating the importance of the Eucharist to the Roman Catholic faith. The central position of the Blessed Sacrament and Monstrance as the visible presence of God within the Roman Catholic faith is illustrated on an 82c stamp. This denomination covers airmail postage worldwide up to 50g.
The two stamps were designed in vibrant shades of red and yellow by Martin Barlow, soon to be ordained as Deacon. Speaking about the stamps he said: “As a professional designer any design which we create is for a reason and a season. With both hands firmly placed on my heart, I am now proud to say that both my design of the Congress brand and the An Post stamps are my everlasting mark, a physical representation of my faith for future generations to come.”
“To be commissioned by An Post was a dream come true. Stamp design is something every professional designer can only dream of and in my case my dream had come true. Here was my chance to show in a pictorial form what the Eucharist and Church meant to me,” he added.
A collector’s First Day Cover envelope may be viewed and purchased from June 7th together with the stamps, at the GPO Stamp Shop, online at www.irishstamps.ie and by telephone at (01) 705 7400. A posting facility will be available at the Main Congress Stand at the RDS (Main Hall – Hall 1), where a special souvenir Congress Postcard will be on sale for posting by pilgrims to their loved ones around the world using the special Congress postage stamps.
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Further information contact:
An Post Press Office – (01) 705 8852 / www.irishstamps.ie
IEC 2012 Press Office – (01) 2349927 / www.iec2012.ie
