In university of Limerick

on tuesday april fourteenth

to please welcome on the stage

the president of University of Limerick, professor Don Barrey.

The founder

of Children in Crossfire

Richard Moore

and I hope you will give a resounding

?????kidney laporta???????

to his holiness - the 14th Dalai Lama

Distinguished guests,

visitors

colleagues and students

I'm absolutely delighted to welcome you all to the University of Limerick

on this marvelous location

I know that many of you have traveled long distances to be here

from all over Ireland

from the UK and all

across europe

you're all most welcome

i would also like to give a warm welcome to the also reviewing online

this event is being streamed on the U.L.

website

to allow as many people as possible to join in the experience

we are honored

and privileged to have with us today

his holiness the 14th

Dalai Lama

we heartily welcome you, your holiness, and thank you for your gracious presence

here today

his holiness is respected around the world as a truly inspirational spiritual

teacher

whose energy compassion

and wisdom

touch everyone he meets

he is renowned for his tireless efforts to promote the peaceful resolution of

human conflict

and his message on the power of forgiveness will have a deep resonance

for everyone

throughout the island of Ireland

i think i should explain that the scarf i was wearing misplaced around my neck

by his holiness as a symbol of the blessings he brings

to us all today

this khata

has symbols of protection

freedom compassion

happiness and love

and i know that all gathered here today

are embraced in the good wishes that it embodies

it is fitting that his holiness should come to you well

we are committed to making our university pioneering interconnected

and that is part of our DNA to reach out

in pioneering ways to connect with those who need assistance

we genuinely want to serve our communities

and make a positive contribution to the lives

of our citizens

in the spirit of partnership

i am delighted to see so many representatives

of modern trade

and community organizations here today many of whom

have collaborated with the university

our staff writer across the university

are involved in many community outreach activities

that provide educational opportunities for all sectors of society

and U.L. is particularly involved in the regeneration of our beautiful city of

Limerick

improving the lives of others there's also something we have in common

with Richard Moore

i think we can all take inspiration from Richard's truly remarkable life story

and the charity Children in Crossfire which he founded to help children in

conflict situations

and for making this very special day happen i want to express my appreciation

and indeed your appreciation

to Richard

for bringing the Dalai Lama to Limerick. Thank you Richard.

And finally i would like to thank the many teams of staff students performers

and external partners

who worked so hard to make

today's event

come to fruition in such a wonderful way

ladies and gentlemen

i will conclude by expressing

on your behalf

our gratitude to his holiness for coming to be with us here in Limerick today

it is an understatement to say that we live in troubled times

however I feel sure

that the wisdom in insights we received from his holiness

will service well when in the challenges that we will face together

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thank you president

and now

we will hand over to Richard Moore who will introduce his holiness the Dalai Lama

First of all, can I take this opportunity

to thank the university

for making this visit happen

we've met since

last june or july

to discuss a visit

and the university has cooperated

in every way to make this event

a special

as it can be for Limerick

i would like to acknowledge Craigan Terry Brown and of course

the president Barry for all

the support and cooperation

and assistance throughout the arrangements here

i would like to thank all of you

for comming here today

because without you

we wouldn't have an event

and in the end of the day

for me, his holiness

has come here today

to see you

i lost my sight in 1972

as you know

as a result

of being shot and blinded by rubber bullet

i'm glad to say

that the soldier who blinded me

is in the audience

and Charles, I just want to say - you're very welcome

so Charles and I have built a good friendship

with his holiness over the last...

That person, just in front of us..

wonderful 0:09:03.470, 0:09:06.290 So when I told him and Craigan, that Charles is comming

He said: is he comming to ?????????????????????/

So I get no sympathy at this university

But You know

there are many things in my life

that helped me to deal with blindness

and helped me cope with blindness and deal with loosing my sight in such a dramatic way

I always say if it wasn't for the fact that I've come from good family

a good community

on despite the poverty and the difficulties that existed then

i still had choises and opportunities available to me

the fourth thing about me was

the fact I've never felt any anger

or any bitterness

about what happened

and if you think about anger

and bitterness

i wouldn't have affected anybody

only me