Objection To Proposed Mosque in Blanchardstown
There's an objection to the building of a large mosque in Blanchardstown over its call to prayer.
Planning permission's been granted for a new mosque on the site of Warrenstown House in Corduff.
A Dublin neurosurgeon has pledged to build it in memory of his wife and sons who died in an arson attack in England in 2013.
Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar at the funeral service for his family in Blanchardstown
The project was scaled down after concerns it was too big but an Ashbourne resident has lodged an objection with An Bord Pleanala.
He has concerns over traffic and the call to prayer from a 95 feet-high minaret being too noisy.
However Dr Sattar says there was never any intention to have the call to prayer and it was never mentioned in the planning application.
The Beaumont and Temple Street surgeon says it will be an activity-based community centre for all of Dublin 15 and that this had been his family's vision.
"There'll be an indoor sports hall and outdoor all-weather pitch, we'll have a nice landscaped area and there'll be a restaurant where people can come and eat and drink. It will especially help the secondary schools in the area. It will help them as part of their Junior Cert programme where they have to learn about other religions. Already we have had two schools visit (the centre) and they were so delighted and happy to have help with their project."
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Dr Sattar says the mosque will be named in memory of his son Bilal, the primary school is already called after his daughter Zainab, the community centre will be dedicated to his wife Shehnila and the all weather pitch will be called after his youngest son Jamal.