History was made this morning as the GAA opened the doors of Croke Park to Ireland's Muslim community in order to facilitate the observation of Eid al-Adha. Eid, known as the 'feast of the sacrifice, is one of the most important celebrations in Islam and is celebrated at the end of Hajj.
Prayer mats were laid on Croke Park's turf as two hundred people assembled inside the stadium, including leaders of the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faith in Ireland on Jones's Road.
Journalist Razan Ibraheem captured some of the remarkable scenes from the Cusack Stand.
Such a beautiful and incredible day in Ireland. Muslims performing #EidulAdha prayers led by @DrUmarAlQadri in the historical @CrokePark @officialgaa #عيد_الاضحى #عيد_الأضحى_المبارك #EidMubarak pic.twitter.com/XFL4HztHoH
— Razan Ibraheem (رزان) (@RazanIRL) July 31, 2020
What a moment!. @officialgaa opens its historical @CrokePark for Muslims to celebrate and pray in #EidAladha2020. This is Ireland, the accepting, the tolerant, the diverse and the beautiful homeland and for all. #عيد_الاضحى pic.twitter.com/ty3cxYO9RF
— Razan Ibraheem (رزان) (@RazanIRL) July 31, 2020
Facemasks were worn by congregants and social distancing was observed.
As muslims gather in Croke Park to celebrate Eid Al Adha, Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri says ‘Ireland is indeed a country of céad míle fáilte’. | Read: https://t.co/0TlRigMrAh pic.twitter.com/kjvGciJBZC
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 31, 2020
Croke Park was made available for the celebrations because Covid-19 restricted the number of people who could gather indoors.
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, said at the event:
"This pandemic has brought with it some blessings.
"If not for this pandemic we probably would not have been here.
"If it was not for this pandemic our communities would not have been united.
"We understand as humans we are in this together and we are having the same challenges."
Iraqi-born hurler with Ballinteer St Johns Bonner Ó Loingsigh addressed the gathering and discussed how hurling had helped him integrate into Irish culture.
