Children in Crossfire Charity

[Stephany]

Hi all

Hayley will be in Derry tomorrow for the 'Children in Crossfire' charity's 10th anniversary.
You never stop Hayley, do you?

Stephany

Hayley to sing at children's conference
Seamus McKinney
17 July 2007
(c) 2007, The Irish News Ltd. All Rights reserved.

One of the world's leading classical singers, Hayley Westenra, arrives in Derry tomorrow to join the Dalai Lama in celebrating the Children in Crossfire charity's 10th anniversary.

The New Zealander agreed to visit to sing for Nobel peace laureate the Dalai Lama at a conference at the city's Millennium Forum.

The Dalai Lama is due in the city this morning and will deliver the keynote address at the conference tomorrow.

Adopting the theme 'A promise for the future', the conference will be addressed by children's rights campaigners from around the globe.

Recognised as the outstanding singer of her generation, Hayley Westenra (20) came to prominence at the age of 16 when she released a Maori love song, Pokarekare Ana.

Since then she has performed for world leaders, often singing with opera's leading men including Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel.

Her debut album, Pure, sold faster than any other classical album in history.

Ms Westenra told The Irish News she was looking forward to her first visit to Derry, although she has visited Ireland many times.

"My great-grandmother is Irish - from Co Cork - and I also have relatives on my father's side of the family from Monaghan," she said.

A common name in Co Monaghan, the Westenra family were once part of the county's Anglo-Irish ruling classes.

A popular hotel in the centre of Monaghan town - the Westenra Arms - still bears the family name.

The youngest ever Unicef goodwill ambassador, Ms Westenra said she was approached by photographer Lawrence Doherty of The Studio about the possibility of singing before the Dalai Lama when he came to the Children in Crossfire conference and readily agreed.

She hopes to sing Derry's own anthem, Danny Boy for the Dalai Lama as well as her hit Pokarekare Ana and In Trutina.

Children in Crossfire founder Richard Moore said the two-day conference sought to put children's issues at the forefront of people's minds through the words of the Dalai Lama and other speakers.

"This is a great event for this city and Ireland and we hope children all over the world will benefit from it," he said.

[Stephany]

More info on this event from 'Derry Today'.

Dalai Lama to arrive in Derry this morning
Published Date: 17 July 2007
Location: Derry



The Dalai Lama of Tibet is set to fly into City of Derry Airport at 9.30am this morning to take part in the 10th anniversary celebrations of local charity, Children in Crossfire.

A number of other speakers will also take part in the event including Jane Olson, of Human Rights Watch, veteran journalist, Fergal Keane and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Dermot Ahern. It will take the form of a variety of talks and workshops on children's rights with delegates getting the chance to exchange experiences and engage in critical dialogue.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born into a peasant family and was recognised, at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

The Dalai Lama will meet with local journalists tomorrow morning before attending the closing ceremony of the celebrations in the afternoon.

[Mark]

Hi Stephany

Thanks very much for this article, I wasn't aware of this ...

A common name in Co Monaghan, the Westenra family were once part of the county's Anglo-Irish ruling classes.

A popular hotel in the centre of Monaghan town - the Westenra Arms - still bears the family name.

It just goes to show, despite knowing alot about Hayley, almost everytime she is interviewed, I learn something new

Thanks once again

Lots of love
Mark

[Stephany]

Hi Mark,

If Hayley performs in Northern Ireland, at least we know where to book a room!
More on www.westenrahotel.com/

Stephany

[stevemacdonald]

She hopes to sing Derry's own anthem, Danny Boy for the Dalai Lama as well as her hit Pokarekare Ana and In Trutina.

She could also serenade him with "Hello Dalai".

[Joe]

Wow...Hayley will sing before the Dalai Lama ! Another amazing singing achievement for our Hayley .

Joe

[meldy]

Wow sing before the Dalai Lama!! That's amazing!! The Westenra Hotel.....oooo......so is it complete with um...vampires hehe

Meldy

[Stephany]

Royalties, Prime Ministers and now the Dalai Lama. Who's next? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Stephany

[petertong]

tinky3344 said:

Hi Stephany

Thanks very much for this article, I wasn't aware of this ...

A common name in Co Monaghan, the Westenra family were once part of the county's Anglo-Irish ruling classes.

A popular hotel in the centre of Monaghan town - the Westenra Arms - still bears the family name.

It just goes to show, despite knowing alot about Hayley, almost everytime she is interviewed, I learn something new

Thanks once again

Lots of love
Mark

Hi Mark,

Here is a photo of Rossmore Castle where the Bt Rossmore's lived:

www.askaboutireland.ie/image_large?asset_id=2374

in colour:



A photo of the ruins:

www.askaboutireland.ie/image_large?asset_id=2376

That link/pic makes me sad to behold it

One of the early Westenra's was made Baron Rossmore due to a complicated method of inheriting property/intermarriage, and the title has been passed down. The current heir to the title... Benedict Westenra... The interesting thing about the Westenra's are the different families that they intermarried with. One of the families they married into (well a daughter whom Hayley is likely descended from) was instrumental in exploring/founding one of the early New England colonies. I could go on and on.

I do believe there is a house still remaining in Monaghan that was once owned (and originally built) by one of the sons of the original Westenra from Holland... Hayley should go visit it perhaps. I certainly would!

best regards,
Peter T.

PS: Monaghan ("Muineachan") means "place of thickets" from what I've read.

[Richard]

Thanks for finding the information, Stephany and Peter!

I'm sure this will be another exciting new experience for Hayley, and there's really no stopping her. I hope we'll see some reports on the event.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Dori]

Lovely article, thanks Stephany. Another thing to add to my growing blog!!! :2fun:

Dori

[Stephany]

More from today's 'Irish News'.
Not sure it is very accurate though.

Stephany

Dalai Lama leads charity celebrations
Seamus McKinney
18 July 2007
(c) 2007, The Irish News Ltd. All Rights reserved

The Dali Lama will lead celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the Children in Crossfire charity in Derry today.

The spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet arrived yesterday to deliver the keynote address at the 'Promise for the Future' conference at the city's Millenium Forum.

He was greeted on his arrival at City of Derry airport by Children in Crossfire founder, Richard Moore.

The 'Promise for the Future' conference opened at Derry's City Hotel yesterday and continues at the hotel this morning when it will be addressed by human rights campaigner Jane Olson.

This afternoon events move to the forum where Irish minister for foreign affairs, Dermot Ahern, will address the conference as well as children's commissioner Patricia Lewsley and poet and lawyer, Cecil Rajendra.

One of the world's premiere opera singers, Hayley Westenra will jet in from New Zealand this morning to sing for the Dalai Lama.

Ms Westenra (20) will she sing Derry's anthem Danny Boy among other songs for the Tibetan leader.

[/color]

Entertainment will also be provided by Irish artists Christie Hennessey and Luka Bloom as well as Derry musicians Roy Arbuckle and the Lumen Christi choir.

Children in Crossfire director Mr Moore said he hoped the conference would set the charity's direction for the next 10 years.

Mr Moore, who addressed the conference yesterday, said he was delighted with the way the conference was progressing.

He told delegates Children and Crossfire had grown from the Troubles and from his own experience. He was blinded at 10 years of age by a British army rubber bullet.

Last year, with the help of independent film company, Hotshot Films, the Derry man tracked down and met the now retired British army major who fired the rubber bullet in 1972. The two men have since become friends and have met on a number of occasions.

"We have hundreds of projects, involving thousands of people so at the end of the day millions of people have benefited in some way through the work of Children in Crossfire and through our partnerships over the years," he said.

Mr Moore said he and his family received a lot of help and support in the days and months immediately after he was blinded as a child.

"I began to realise that I could make a contribution to helping children throughout the world who don't have that support or all the things that I had and ultimately that's why I started Children in Crossfire," he said.

The Dalai Lama will deliver his keynote address at 3.20pm today and the conference will close with an address from Mr Moore at 4pm.
[/size][/quote]

[grant]

One of the world's premiere opera singers, Hayley Westenra will jet in from New Zealand this morning to sing for the Dalai Lama.

Ms Westenra (20) will she sing Derry's anthem Danny Boy among other songs for the Tibetan leader.

Urrm!! No she won't!! and

Urrm!! Yes she will!!

Best wishes
Grant

[stevemacdonald]

One of the world's premiere opera singers, Hayley Westenra...

So she's an opera singer in the mind of Seamus McKinney. I'll bet he also thinks Yanni is a classical composer and Picasso was a Renaissance painter.

[Dori]

Steve, that is sooooo funny!!! I crackep up laughing when i read your comment!! Especially about the artist joke, because i study art history!! Haha, that made my day, thanks a bunch!!

Dori