EID CELEBRATIONS took place in Dublin's flagship GAA stadium Croke Park over the weekend for the second year running.
The prayer festival, one of the most important in the Islamic faith calendar, saw hundreds of believers flock to Croke Park to take part in the outdoor, socially distanced event.
The Eid al-Adha ceremony was aired live on RTÉ and was attended by some of Ireland's top politicians including Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Government Chief Whip Jack Chambers, as well as representatives from the GAA and leaders of other religions, including the Catholic Archbishop, Church of Ireland Archbishop and Chief Rabbi of Judaism in Ireland.
The celebrations were marked with prayers and speeches, and ended with a rendition of the Irish national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann.
The national anthem was sung by the Islamic Centre of Ireland's children's choir, where young children and teenagers belted out the Irish-language song with their hands over their hearts.
Ending the Eid al-Adha ceremony at Croke Park this morning, the Islamic Centre of Ireland's children's choir sing the national anthem. | Read more: https://t.co/oSTUqJM8Xc pic.twitter.com/rhhz59Liqo
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 20, 2021
Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin wished those celebrating an 'Eid Mubarak', and said the Muslim community was "an important and valued part of the tapestry of our Republic."
He added: "The children's choir at Croke Park did a beautiful job of Amhrán na bhFiann earlier today".
Dr Umar Al-Qadri, chair of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council, responded to the Taoiseach thanking him for his comments, and said "The kids are over the moon that you saw ... their performance".
"I don't think there'll be any early nights here!"
