Planning permission has been granted for Ireland's first traditional style Buddhist temple which is due to be built near Allihies in west Cork, writes Olivia Kelleher.
The Dzogchen Beara Trust plans to build a 14.5 metre high temple with three additional adjacent single storey buildings on the site of its existing retreat centre at Garranes. Cork County Council has granted planning permission for the project.
However, the building of the temple is dependent on the raising of €1 million. Over €100,000 has been collected to date.
Dzogchen Beara is a long-term retreat centre and is registered as a Charitable Trust in Ireland. Tibetan master Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche visited Dzogchen Beara in May 2009 to advise on the temple, especially its design, location and orientation.
The temple will be built in the style of a traditional Tibetan monastery, a unique form of architecture that is an inspiring symbol of the Buddha’s teachings.