Planning permission has been granted for a new cultural centre, including prayer rooms, for Muslims living in Clonmel, Co Tipperary despite strong opposition from a large group of local residents.
An Bord Pleanála rejected an appeal by the residents against the decision of Tipperary County Council to approve the proposed development by the Tipperary Islamic Cultural Centre at Irishtown in Clonmel.
Locals claimed the proposed development should more correctly be described as a mosque as it would be used between 6am and 10pm with prayers five times daily.
However, the TICC said a building had to have certain requirements to be classified as a mosque under Islamic sacred law which excluded other activities taking place inside it.
“A building is not a mosque simply because five daily prayers are performed in it,” the TICC said.
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