Hello all - I’m flying into Dublin from Paris with my girlfriend the weekend of August 25. My flight is set to arrive 22:40 on Saturday August 25. It turns out the Pope is scheduled to visit Dublin that same weekend. I had no idea this was happening when I originally booked my vacation and I’m not religious so the idea of seeing the Pope isn’t on my bucket list.Does anyone have a read for what the atmosphere will be like in Dublin that weekend? Part of me wants to embrace the event but a bigger part of me wants a relaxed weekend in Dublin where I’m not worried about road closures, price hikes, and large crowds.What do you think of the idea of taking the train to Galway straight-away and working my way back to Dublin the following weekend instead? The train station is near Phoenix Park though and I’m worried it will be an absolute mess to get down there to set off.
Any advice would be much appreciated!

If you want to take part in Papal events, you are out of luck as all the tickets have gone, including half a million for the Final Mass on Sunday 26th. I too think it's a good idea to get away from Dublin by catching a train or bus to Galway. Heuston station, where the train leaves from, will only be impossibly busy on the Sunday, the day of the Papal Mass, so I suggest you travel straight from the airport and catch your train, or bus from Busaras bus terminal. The Pope is attending Croke Park on Saturday evening, so you may want to avoid Busaras later in the afternoon which isn't far away.
If you want to stay in Dublin for the weekend, it will be very busy, hotels have doubled or tripled their rates and there will be traffic control measures.

Good information. Thanks.

Take the gobus directly from the airport or a bus to Belfast from the airport. They're very frequent.