Dalai Lama unable to visit Southill

HOPES that spiritual leader the Dalai Lama would visit Southill during his brief Irish visit next month have been dashed.

Preparations had been going ahead in the Limerick estate to welcome the Tibetan Buddhist leader on April 14 when he would give a lecture at the University of Limerick.

Such has been the demand for places at the lecture it has been moved from the 1,000-seat UL Concert Hall to the UL Sports Arena, which can hold 3,000.

Tickets costing €25 were snapped up within hours of going on sale.

However, his schedule does not permit him to visit Southill.

Cllr Jim Long said there was great disappointment at the news that the Dalai Lama would not be visiting the community.

He said there would be no security issue if the holy man did visit the estate.

Cllr Long said: “Southill has certain problems, but I can assure you it would be a safe place for the Dalai Lama to visit. People got a great lift when the news came that he was coming. A visit by the Dalai Lama to Southill would have been a great boost to the confidence of the community. People were talking about it and his visit had generated huge media interest.”

A spokesman for UL said yesterday said while there had been media speculation the Dalai Lama was going to visit Southill, this had never been confirmed.

The spokesman said: “It was always just a UL visit and it will be the biggest indoor event we have ever held such has been the demand for tickets.”

The Dalai Lama will be in Limerick for just three hours before he departs for Stockholm from Shannon for another engagement.

While there is disappointment over Southill, local children have been chosen to entertain the Dalai Lama at UL.

Children from Galvone Primary School, which caters for children living in Southill, will be accompanied by the Irish Chamber Orchestra.