Dharamshala: It has been announced that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is due to visit the Republic of Ireland in April 2011, to take part in a series of events with three Irish-based NGO’s: Children in Crossfire, Afri and SpunOut.His Holiness is a patron of Children in Crossfire, an organisation dedicated to defending the rights of children suffering from “the injustice of poverty”. Representatives of Children in Crossfire extended the invitation to visit the Republic during a trip to Dharamshala earlier this year.
Children in Crossfire was founded by Richard Moore, who was blinded at 10 by rubber bullets fired by British soldiers in Northern Ireland. At the announcement of the visit, Moore praised His Holiness, “There is perhaps no greater advocate for peace and compassion as respected worldwide as the Dalai Lama. He is a man of great warmth, depth, knowledge and insight”.
Afri, of which Archbishop Desmond Tutu is patron, has promoted peace and development in Ireland and around the world for 35 years. SpunOut is a youth organisation which seeks to empower young people and help them to engage with health and social issues.
His Holiness has twice previously visited the Republic of Ireland, in 1973 and 1991, as well as making 3 visits to Northern Ireland, in 2000, 2005 and 2007, for the promotion of peace in the region.
The announcement stated: “the visit comes at an important time when Ireland, North and South, are looking at important questions of identity, peace and progress”.
More detailed information about the visit will be available in due course on the website: dalailamaireland.com
