Killarney Islamic centre clears council hurdle

The way has been cleared for a permanent Islamic centre in Killarney.

The decision had been one of the last taken by the local town council before it was abolished.

“People are entitled to have a prayer centre,” said Kerry county councillor Donal Grady, a former town councillor in Killarney.

He confirmed the decision had been communicated in writing to the local Islamic community.

A difficulty over access, he said, has been resolved and he welcomed the decision.

An Post, it emerged at the weekend, is now negotiating the sale of the site to the Islamic group.

A year ago permission for change of use of a former telephone exchange, at the rear of the town’s post office, had been approved, by the council to facilitate an Islamic cultural centre for prayer and education.

However, pedestrian access from the council-owned Beech Road car park to the proposed centre was refused because of issues over a right of way — which meant the centre was effectively landlocked.

In one of its last acts, the council informed the Islamic community — which is currently renting a building for prayer and education — that a 4ft-wide pedestrian access would be permitted on completion of works to a St Vincent de Paul centre.

Cllr Grady said the resolution would allow the conversion of the exchange to go ahead.

The former telephone exchange and postal sorting building, at the rear of the central post office complex in New Street, had been initially designated for commercial use.

However, An Post, which has entered a lease agreement with the muslim community, conditional on planning, had written a letter of support for the change of use.

A cultural centre differs from a mosque in so far as the latter is for prayer alone. The proposed new centre will include a place of worship as well as education and sports activities.

Upwards of 100 people are expected to use the centre regularly.

For the past four years a residential building in High Street has been used by the muslim community who comprise people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India.

The application attracted no objections and An Post wrote a letter of support.

The muslim population in Killarney has increased over the past decade, through work permits in the hotel and catering industry, as well as a joinery business and other enterprises.

Around 300 people of the Islamic faith now reside in the tourist town.