More than 1,000 members of the Muslim community in Ireland gathered in Croke Park on Sunday to celebrate the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, chairman of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, led Eid prayers during Sunday's event, which featured a record attendance for an Eid celebration at Croke Park.
The annual festival has taken place at GAA headquarters for the last five years after Covid-19 restrictions prevented celebrations from taking place in mosques in 2020.
Describing Croke Park as an "iconic beacon of Irish culture", Al-Qadri told attendees that Sunday's event shows how Muslims are being embraced and accepted in Ireland.
"For us to be able to spend our day of Eid here, especially with what is happening right now, the divisive rhetoric, the racism that is becoming prevalent, it shows that institutions such as the GAA are truly committed to inclusion, truly committed to their motto of 'where we all belong'," Al-Qadri said on Sunday.
"It shows to us as Muslims, Irish Muslims. We're not just being tolerated, we're not just being accepted, we are being embraced."
He also encouraged the Muslim community to "reach out to the larger Irish society" by participating in the GAA and their local sporting community.
"A lot of people may not have met Muslims, but they may have a lot of negative stereotypes and images about them and prejudice about them. And the best way to tackle that is really for us as Muslims to engage with others."
GAA President Jarlath Burns extended a "warm welcome" to attendees gathered in Croke Park on Sunday and said the event is a testament to the GAA's "commitment to diversity and inclusion".
Eid al-Adha, the second of the two main Islamic holidays, remembers the Prophet Ibrahim, who offered his son as a sacrifice to God.
Bennachtaí na Féile Eid daoibh. Eid Mubarak from @CrokePark.
One thousand Muslims gathered and performed the #EidPrayers. We did not pray at the turf due to maintenance of the pitch but still had an amazing celebration. Special Go Raibh Mile Maith Agat to Archbishop Michael… pic.twitter.com/Kpqc4qoOdN
— Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri (@DrUmarAlQadri) June 16, 2024
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