PLANNING permission has been granted for a new Islamic cultural centre and place of worship in the heart of Limerick City.
Planners in Limerick City and County Council have given the go-ahead to Ghousia Masjid Limerick to develop the new proposed new cultural hub on Sexton Street.
As part of the plans, the Ghousia Masjid Trust says it intends to change the use of an existing repair garage on Sexton Street, with the ambition of transforming it into a two-storey cultural centre and place of worship for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The new cultural centre will feature a new first floor, which will be used for prayer, as well as the majority of the ground floor.
The majority of the ground and first floors of the property will feature Musallas, which are spaces used by members of the Islam faith to pray.
The new centre will also feature ablution fountains, two kitchenettes, as well as toilets.
According to the planning file, the proposed centre on Sexton Street will aim to “create a contemporary space that serves both Muslims and non-Muslims, moving beyond traditional forms of Islamic cultural presentation”.
The centre will regularly open for three hours each day, the planning file explains, with hopes for opening for 30 minutes before sunrise, 30 minutes in the afternoon, and between one to two hours in the evening, after sunset.
The centre will also open for religious holidays or any other gatherings that “align with the aim and objectives of Ghousia Masjid Trust”.
Planning permission was granted by Limerick City and County Council planners subject to nine conditions, among them that no external sound amplification system be placed on the building.
Other conditions state that works on the new cultural centre can only take place between the hours of 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays, with no work to be undertaken on Sundays.
