Dalai Lama Inspires Crowds On Irish Visit

The Dalai Lama has paid a two-day visit to the Republic of Ireland - his first in 20 years - and thousands of people turned out at events in Dublin and Limerick to hear his message of compassion, forgiveness and peace.

His Holiness was attending a sold-out conference in a Dublin hotel called the "Possibilities Civic Summit" organized by three groups, Afri, Spunout.ie and Children in Crossfire.

The latter is a charity set up by Richard Moore, a man who lost his sight after being shot by a rubber bullet in Derry at the age of 10.

Moore went on to befriend the man who fired the bullet, Charles Innes - indeed he was present in Limerick at one of last weeks' events.

Richard Moore has become good friends with the Dalai Lama, who apparently has taken to calling him the Derry Lama.

"He is my hero," said the Dalai Lama, holding Mr Moore's hand at a press conference in Dublin. "Despite what happened to him, never have I seen bitterness or anger on his face."

Moore invited the Dalai Lama to come to Ireland during a trip last May to northern India, where the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader lives.

On the second day of his visit, after a stopover in Kildare during which he was presented with a St Brigid's Cross by schoolchildren, the Dalai Lama spoke on "The Power of Forgiveness" at packed arena in the University of Limerick.

He said the ultimate source of happiness was inner peace, and described religious harmony as one of his lifelong commitments.

Among the 3,000-strong audience were the husband and father of Irish bride Michaela McAreavey who was killed on her honeymoon in January - John McAreavey and Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte.

Mary and Anthony Geoghegan, the mother and brother of murdered Limerick rugby player Shane Geoghegan were also there, along with Limerick woman Mary Fitzpatrick, whose 19-year-old son Michael was stabbed to death in Southill in 1999.

Speaking afterwards, Mickey Harte said the subject matter had been very relevant to his family and others touched by tragedy.

"I think it showed how the power of compassion can be of benefit to all of us," he said.