Press Release 11th April 2011

“All roads lead to Kildare”. (Ancient Irish saying)

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama will visit Kildare Town on Wednesday, April 13th.

The Dalai Lama will arrive in the Market Square at 1.30pm. where he will be welcomed with music and song by pupils from local schools in the Kildare area.

The Dalai Lama will be presented with the Brigid Flame by Srs. Mary Minehan and Phil O’Shea, Solas Bhride Community, in recognition of his work for peace and his life long commitment to non-violence. He will also be presented with gifts by the Brigidine Sisters and some local children.

Following the public welcome in the Market Square the Dalai Lama will make his way to St. Brigid’s Cathedral through a guard of honour comprising Kildare children waving white flags, with the strains of the uilleann pipes (played live by Liam O Flynn) in the air.

The Dalai Lama will experience the beauty of St. Brigid’s Cathedral and spend some time in meditation with local religious leaders. After his period of meditation in St. Brigid’s Cathedral His Holiness will travel by car to St. Brigid’s Church where he will address those assembled on the theme of Compassion. Some seven hundred people will be in St. Brigid’s Church to hear this historic address.

The Dalai Lama’s address in St. Brigid’s Church will be web cast live on:

www.kildare-nationalist.ie

and

www.ustream.com

Live web streaming will start at 2pm on Wednesday the 13th April

The Dalai Lama’s spiritual visit to Kildare Town is being organised by Solas Bhride in Kildare Town (Brigidine Sisters) and Children in Crossfire, Afri and Spunout. The Organisations wanted to give as many as possible, the opportunity to see and hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also wished the Dalai Lama to experience some of Ireland’s spiritual and cultural heritage during his brief visit.