Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known as Amma, will be in the National Show Centre in Dublin this week for two days of hugging and singing.

Last year, the event attracted over 10,000 people from around Ireland. This compares with the largest European Amma event, which was held in Germany and drew a crowd of just 25,000 despite that country's population of over 82 million people.

Amma has commented on the openness of the Irish people during her previous visits, which have been attended by well-known figures such as John Hume and One-in-Four's Colm O'Gorman.

Amma has also spoken about the importance of sustaining the Irish language, and last year specifically requested that a 'bhajan', a song of devotion, be prepared in Irish for her to sing at this year's event.

The Irish-language version has been prepared by poet Cathal O Searcaigh and artist and singer Deirdre Brennan, sister of Moya Brennan and Enya. Brennan has been following Amma for 15 years.

"I'm not a religious person at all, but it's very difficult to explain the effect Amma has on you, " Brennan told the Sunday Tribune. "I first went to see her in India in 1991. It was a very spontaneous trip, and very unlike me. I was totally unprepared for what I found. After the hug, I was just trembling and shaking from head to toe and I just knew I was in the presence of someone really great. I was overwhelmed and crying. I'll never forget it."

Amma will be appearing in the National Show Centre on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 November.