(Minghui.org) The annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration was held in Cork, Ireland. On March 17, 2025, the City Hall held a big parade, bringing the four-day celebration to a peak. More than 50 groups from around the world participated in the event. Falun Dafa practitioners’ peaceful exercise demonstrations, coupled with dances and dragon dances, drew cheers from the public.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who had just returned from the U.S., also came to his hometown of Cork that day and watched the parade with nearly 50,000 people.
Practitioners participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17.
St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and commemorates the patron saint who introduced Christianity to this emerald island hundreds of years ago. It’s now an international cultural event in Ireland. Cities and towns invite civic groups to participate in St. Patrick’s Day activities and parades.
As Falun Dafa is an ancient practice from Asia, practitioners receive parade invitations from different cities every year. In 2025, they once again participated in the parade in Cork, and introduced the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to the community.
The Falun Dafa group passes by the podium. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin (front row, right) and Cork Mayor Dan Boyle applauded and welcomed them.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin (front row, right) and Cork Mayor Dan Boyle watch practitioners’ dragon dance performance.
Two or three hours before the parade began, people wearing green tops, green hats or hair accessories appeared in groups on both sides of the street. Some spectators were eager to come to the preparation area early to have a sneak peek.
People Praise Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Melanie from France is studying for a doctorate degree in science in Cork. She came to watch the parade and learned about Falun Dafa. She watched practitioners demonstrate the exercises said, “I feel that the exercises are very peaceful and relaxing.”
Melanie
Ahisan from Pakistan passed by the preparation area before the parade began. At that time, practitioners were quietly practicing the exercises. Ahisan said that he felt that the Falun Dafa team was happy and full of energy. After listening to a practitioner describe Falun Dafa, Ahisan agreed with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
“If you want to be a good person, you must follow Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” Ahisan said.
Ahisan from Pakistan
Linda, a parade coordinator, also praised the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, but said she felt sad when she heard that practitioners in China are being persecuted.
“How could someone be persecuted for believing in such a beautiful concept?” Linda said.
Linda, a parade coordinator
Local residents Mary and her husband Will heard about Falun Dafa for the first time. Mary was interested in learning that Falun Dafa includes five sets exercises and teaches people to be good according to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
She shared her understanding and said that truth is crucial to human morality, “all good qualities come from truth.”
Mary and her husband Will
Talking about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) fear of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and its destruction of traditional culture, Mary expressed regret. She said that China has a long history of culture, “There are still many things we should learn from Chinese traditional culture. Just like the Irish culture, all the ancient cultures in the world are worth cherishing by mankind.” William also agreed.
Mary said she would go to the Falun Dafa website (falundafa.org) to learn more information and introduce the exercises to her daughter.
Branda and Juan from South America expressed their support after learning about Falun Dafa.
St. Patrick’s Day Performance in the Capital
On March 16, practitioners also participated in the St. Patrick’s Day performance in Dublin, the capital. Practitioners wore colorful traditional costumes, performed lotus dance and fan dance for the audience, and demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises. The simple and easy-to-learn exercises inspired many audience members to follow practitioners and do the exercises.
Practitioners perform fan dance in Dublin on March 16.
People in the audience take photos as practitioners demonstrate the exercises.
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