wfn.org | Baha'i News: Irish President makes historic visit to Baha'i Centre

[Rob Weinberg <rweinber@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service

>http://news.bahai.org

>For more information, contact: news@bahai.org

Irish President makes historic visit to Baha'i Centre

DUBLIN, IRELAND, 28 May 2010 (BWNS) -The President of the Republic of Irela nd, 
Mary McAleese, has praised the universality of the Baha'i teachings and  the 
contribution its members make to the life of their nation.

"You are marked out as people with values that are worth observing, worth l 
earning from, worth looking at, worth imitating and so never be in any doub t 
of the value you are every single day in this world," President McAleese  told 
a gathering of some 60 Baha'is during her first ever visit to the Nati onal 
Baha'i Centre in the Irish capital.

"Something you probably do not know, and I am sure it is true of many of yo u, 
is that in and through your lives, you are extraordinary ambassadors for  your 
Faith," she said in impromptu remarks.

President McAleese, first elected as Ireland's President in 1997, made her  
special visit to the Baha'i Centre on 30 April to mark the Festival of Ridv an, 
the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He is the mos t 
recent in a line of divine Messengers that includes Buddha, Jesus, Krishn a, 
Mohammed, Moses, Zoroaster, and others.

The President also expressed concern about the persecution of Baha'is in ot her 
countries. She said it was both sad and remarkable that a Faith with su ch 
principles would attract, in any shape or form, violence from others.

"And on this evening I think we just keep in our hearts those who are payin g 
such a dear price for their fidelity to that simple human and divine char ism 
that reaches right into the heart of humanity," said President McAleese .

"How fortunate all Irish people are to live in a State where followers of a ll 
religions or none are free to practice," she added, according to the Iri sh 
Times, which covered her visit.

During the reception, President McAleese was presented with a specially bou nd 
edition of the Baha'i book, The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah, in both Eng lish 
and the Irish language.

Brendan McNamara, the Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Ba 
ha'is of the Republic of Ireland, described the President's visit as "a mil 
estone - a very joyous occasion."

"She was very generous and spoke with everybody present," said Mr. McNamara , 
"particularly taking time to encourage the youth - in whatever they were  doing 
- to make a contribution to the future of Ireland."

>For more information and photographs, go to:

>http://news.bahai.org/story/774

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