Mosque plan moves a step closer
For the past 18 months, the town's burgeoning Muslim sector has faced the onerous task of meeting every Friday in a makeshift premises and more recently inside a residential house just to reflect in quiet prayer.
"We are praying at the moment on Friday," a local Muslim Community leader who wished to remain anonymous explained.
"There are about 50 of us in a room in a house. This has been going on since May 2009. Before this we were praying in a community centre but the owner in charge of this told me they wanted to extend it for studying."
It is not the first time Muslim representatives have voiced their concerns over the lack of praying facilities currently available to them in the county's main urban area.
In April 2008, the Leader revealed that over 700 worshippers were forced to stand outside and conduct a memorial service on a residential street and in pouring rain after a local man had suddenly passed away.
At the time, Muslim leaders lashed out at the 'disgraceful' way in which Longford's Muslim population had been left to pay their respects to their 'friend' in such an undignified manner.
Almost a year and a half on, little has changed. Locals still have to pray at a house in the Longford town area.
The only solace community leaders can draw upon is the fact planning applications for renovating an existing retail unit inside the Townparks Industrial Estate have since been submitted for approval. But even then the inevitable question of financing such a move crops up.
"The only thing we are missing is the funding because what's happening is the people who promised to provide some money cannot as many of them who run businesses cannot afford to with the recession taking effect. They are not able to help at all," he admitted.
Needing at least €200,000 to fund the revamp, a spokesperson said he hoped Longford County Council and other local support groups would provide the backing both he and his fellow Muslim community associates so desperately need.
"Two months ago we had the Ramadan and the whole month we fasted but because we had no place to worship there were about 150 people gathered in that house.
"Children were crying to come with us and we had tears in our own eyes that we weren't able to take our own children for prayer. They were crying to come with us for prayer but they couldn't come with us. We just want a place to pray and have our social meetings, that's all," the spokesperson stated.
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
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Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
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