TIBETANS, BURMESE and Irish supporters of Tibet's call for independence took what a they called a "freedom torch" up Mayo's Croagh Patrick mountain on Saturday.
The ascent was planned in protest over China's decision to carry the Beijing Olympic torch up Mount Everest, according to Tibet Support Group Ireland and its Mayo branch.
The Mayo event was designed to mirror the official Chinese event when, weather
permitting, the Olympic torch is to be transported up the 29,028 foot (8,840m) Himalayan peak early this month, amid tight security, before being taken to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on June 19th.
The symbolic replica torch was lit on Saturday at Croagh Patrick's foot at Murrisk, and there was a series of inter-denominational readings.
Some 20 Tibetans and members of the Karen people from Burma who are now living in Mayo took part in the event.
The names known Tibetans killed by Chinese authorities since March 14th were read out at Murrisk, Anthony O'Brien of the Mayo Tibet Support Group said.
It objects to China sending the Olympic flame up Everest, known as the holy mountain of Chomulungma in Tibet.
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