Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, last night arrived in Ireland for his first visit in 20 years.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate will speak at sold-out events in Dublin, Kildare and Limerick in the coming days as part of his third trip to the country.

The 76-year-old exiled leader, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, was personally invited to the country by close friend Richard Moore, founder of the Children in Crossfire charity.

Mr Moore, who was blinded by a rubber bullet in Derry at the age of 10, befriended the British soldier who shot him.

The Dalai Lama hosted Mr Moore and the soldier, Charles Innes, at his Indian residence last year.

The spiritual leader will attend a sold-out conference attended by 2,000 people in Dublin this morning.

The Possibilities civic summit in Citywest aims to inspire young people to speak out to help improve the country and is organised by three non-profit organisations -- Afri, which focuses on human rights; Children in Crossfire; and SpunOut.ie, a youth website and forum.

The Dalai Lama will speak on universal responsibility and how taking action for change is something everyone has a duty to do.

Former President and ex-United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson will also be among the speakers, along with performances from Irish musicians, theatre from schoolchildren at Scoil Eoghan in Moville, Co Donegal, and other acts.

The Dalai Lama will then travel to Kildare town, where he will be greeted with music by local schoolchildren as part of a visit organised by nuns of the Brigidine Sisters.

He will attend events in Limerick tomorrow.