"Galway people are probably the most friendly people in the country and it has a spirituality that no other city has. I soon realised that this was the perfect place for the mosque."
Source/Credit: Galway Independent
By Jo Lavelle | October 1, 2014
Galway people have been wonderfully supportive of the creation of Galway's first mosque, the Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has said.
Speaking to the Galway Independent after the opening of the mosque in Ballybrit on Friday, Waterford native Imam Ibrahim Noonan said that, while initially the plan was to have the Ahmadiyya community’s first Irish mosque in Dublin, Galway’s “spirituality and friendliness” made it the most obvious choice.
“Galway people are probably the most friendly people in the country and it has a spirituality that no other city has. I soon realised that this was the perfect place for the mosque,” he added.
Imam Noonan said that, despite a few negative comments, the overriding reaction to the ‘Masjid Maryam’ (‘The Mosque of Mary’) had been very positive.
“The local Galway people have been brilliant - wonderful and supportive. There’s a genuine acceptance and recognition that a Muslim community has a right to have its own mosque,” he said.
Adding that the 150-member strong Ahmadiyya community are “over the moon” that they finally have a place to pray and for their children to learn their Islamic faith, he insisted that the mosque would be open to all and a symbol of peace, love and acceptance.
“There’s an unbelievable sense of gratefulness. They’re so impressed with the Galway people and how kind everyone has been.”
Imam Noonan also said that, while the mosque would be used essentially for prayer, for marriage ceremonies and for funerals, it would also be used as a place to teach the children of the community not only about their own faith, but also other faiths, such as Catholicism.
The mosque will be open to the public and will run lectures and talks on a regular basis, with “full exposure to the public,” he added.
The mosque, which is located at The Cottages, Old Monivea Road, Ballybrit, was officially opened last Friday with prayers and a sermon delivered by the Supreme Head of Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad and was broadcast live from the city throughout the world by Muslim Television International, sky channel 787.
The opening was also attended by numerous local TDs and councillors, including Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, Deputy Joanna Tuffy, and the Mayor of Galway, Councillor Donal Lyons.
Speaking at the opening, Mayor of Galway City Council Councillor Donal Lyons said it was a very historic moment in Galway’s history.
Meanwhile, Father Martin Whelan, representing the Bishop of Galway, said, “The Catholic community welcomes this new mosque as a place where the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community can worship God in freedom and in peace.”
Read original post here: Galway's first mosque opens
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