Offaly County Council grants permission for huge Tullamore mosque

Offaly County Council has granted planning permission for a huge mosque and islamic cultural centre that could cater for up to 50,000 worshippers.

The Faithful Mosque will be located in Charleville woods on the outskirts of Tullamore and will replace Charleville Castle which will be demolished as part of the new development.

We asked Offaly Imam Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Hisham Kabbani Al-Ashi Al-Ali Abdulaziz Bin Mufti Al-Tayeb Abu Hanifa why the mosque needs to be so big.

“It’s simply a case of planning ahead. The Muslim population of Tullamore has gone from zero to 500 in a couple of years. In 10 years it will be 5,000 and if things carry on the way they’re going, one day it will be 50,000. Hey, you know what’s funny? If a white Irish guy said that he’d be called racist. Lol.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor Tom Bracken said the new mosque will be great for the town.

“Eh, yes. It will be great for the town. So great. I don’t know how exactly but that’s what Mary-Lou told me to say. Just great. Yay.”

Mr Abubakr Ahmad Hisham Kabbani Al-Ashi Al-Ali Abdulaziz Bin Mufti Al-Tayeb Abu Hanifa said Ireland is now the number one destination for people on the move from all over the world.

“Thousands are fleeing desperate situations and making their way to Ireland as we speak. I’m here nearly two years now but I still have nightmares and sometimes wake up screaming in the middle of the night. I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from the trauma of living in Luton. What a dump!”