SCHOOLCHILDREN from Limerick’s regeneration areas will perform for the Dalai Lama when he visits Ireland next week.
The spiritual leader of the Tibetan people will deliver a special address entitled “The Power of Forgiveness” at the University of Limerick on April 14th.
The address is the largest-capacity event in which the Dalai Lama will take part during his two-day visit here, and all 3,100 tickets for the event have already sold out.
The visit was organised by Richard Moore, founder of the charity Children in Crossfire, who is a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama.
Mr Moore, who was just 10 years old when he was blinded by a rubber bullet, established the charity in 1996.
The Derry native has since become a leading international advocate for the rights of children suffering from the injustice of poverty.
Local schoolchildren from Limerick’s regeneration areas will join with performers from the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick, the Irish Chamber Orchestra and guests to perform for the Dalai Lama.
The Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Youth Chorus, which is made up from three Limerick regeneration schools, will perform a new song which has been specially written for the occasion.
The programme of music will also include performances by Kenneth Edge, a Dublin saxophonist, performing with Academos Irish World Academy Strings; the monks of Glenstal Abbey, performing with acclaimed spiritual singer Nóirín Ní Riain and Cantoral, the Irish World Academy’s female chant ensemble.
Also taking part will be acclaimed London-based Islamic singer Razia Sultanova and South African cantor Alwyn Shulman.
The Dalai Lama’s public address will take place from 9am to 11.30am at the university arena.
All tickets for the performance and address on April 14th have been sold out, however the event can be viewed live online at ul.ie/dalailama from 9.20am.
The Dalai Lama will host a press conference at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on April 13th.