The Muslim population in Ireland has expanded substantially in the last several years, with 10 times more Muslims living in the country today than lived in Ireland 20 years ago.
Islam has become the fastest-growing religion in Ireland, with the number of Muslims increasing nearly 70 percent between 2002 and 2006.
The Muslim community is also becoming more diverse.
“This is probably one of the most diverse Muslim populations in Europe,” “The Irish Times” was told by Dr. Oliver Scharbrodt, who is leading a pioneering three-year research project on Islam in Ireland at University College Cork.
“In other European countries you have a particular ethnic group or nationality being dominant because of historical or colonial links, but that is not the case in Ireland.
“One could say that Ireland constitutes a microcosm of the global ummah [community of believers], with all the different nationalities, trends and movements present and visible in a fairly small geographic and communal space.”
The Islamic Cultural Center of Ireland [ICCI], in Clonskeagh, Co. Dublin, an institution which has a long-standing relationship with the Irish government, is connected to the Brussels-based Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe.
The iman at the ICCI is the secretary of the European Council for Fatwa and Researchan, an offshoot of the federation.
“With the [ICCI] hosting the secretariat of this leading body of Islamic jurisprudence, Ireland has become the center of one of the most influential ideological and intellectual trends of the contemporary Muslim world,” says Scharbrodt.
The ICCI has welcomed President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen and his predecessor Bertie Ahern, as well as many ministers.
Many Muslims have said that because of its size and financial resources the ICCI towers above other Muslim organizations as the self-appointed voice of Islam in Ireland, pushing aside diversity.
Scharbrodt adds that the Irish government should engage with the diversity of Muslims in Ireland, particularly as the numbers grow and second-generation Muslims come of age.
“Ideally it should try to relate to and establish links with as many mosque groups and organisations as possible,” he said.
The 2006 census put the number of Muslim living in Ireland under 33,000, but most observers agree the true figure is over 40,000.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.RosaryIreland | Jun 07, 2013, 01:34 AM EDT
These people can live there, but I can't with great- grandparents born there. Hold Fast Ireland Look to Sweden and kick out Enda Kenny.
RosaryIreland | Jun 07, 2013, 01:29 AM EDT
It makes my blood run cold to think that the EC And other neo Marxists are forcing their agenda on the Irish Republic. Muslims are treated like a protected class. They will take over with marked arrogance and insolence. Already in Minneapolis I was spit on out of the blue and thrown rocks at by 2 small Islamic boys while their Mother looked on approvingly. In the name of Stalinist PC don't throw your country and culture down the toilet.Limit Muslim culture and immigration now. If they try any more terrorist activities We Will bomb Mecca and Medina!
Smyrnian | Sep 30, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
Great. Just what Ireland needs. Wait until they start taking over and demanding changes to THEIR ways. It's coming soon.
canadianirish | Oct 23, 2011, 04:44 PM EDT
Be VERY wary. Read my post of October 23/11.
bonbon1 | Aug 21, 2011, 01:21 PM EDT
It seems to me that Ireland needs as many muslims as possible. One needs to fill all the vacancies in the strong Irish job market and to bolster the strong Irish economy. The muslims will also have a positive effect in the community by causing a calming effect as witnessed by their love for peace and law and order.One has only to look at the splended progress that the muslims have made in countries like Algeria,Tunisia,Libya,Egypt,Sudan,Eritrea,Djibouti,Ethiopia,Somalia,Yemen,Saudi Arabia,Oman,Jordan,Lebanon,Syria Iraq,Iran,Afganistan,Pakistan,etc.,etc.,etc. If we could adopt their faith,laws and personal qualities then Ireland might become like these wonderful nations who provide their citizens with the greatest freedom,prosperity,court systems,health care and joy not known in the other half of the non- muslim world. I know some of you skeptics who read the so called liberal press might disagree with me but that only proves that you don't have an open mind.
captainjess | Aug 21, 2011, 11:43 AM EDT
As an American of strong Irish roots as a Northern Irish Catholic I understand acceptance of who we are. With every thing going on in the U.S.A. I worn you don't lose who you are or your traditions to except the new immigrants no matter who they are. Keep your roots keep your traditions. Let them change if they want to live in your beautiful country. Good luck and God bless.
jacersagain | Apr 27, 2011, 04:06 PM EDT
A bit of a reminder for all... in a few days time, on the 1st of May, the seven-year transitional period for all 10 countries that newly joined the EU in 2004, will end. A number of these countries have high Muslim populations. Each citizen of these countries will, from May 1st, be entitled to jobs, social welfare benefits and free housing in Ireland & the UK (including NI). I guess that 40,000 population in Ireland will now increase substantially - and I don’t know where Ireland is going to get the money to pay them soc wel benefits, or house them. There are certainly no jobs for them!
KatMcLaughlin | Apr 26, 2011, 04:54 PM EDT
Peterson, prayer has been removed from US education as an institution. No child of any faith is denied the individual right to pray. jacersagain says "These 40,000 are not people of peace, though they claim to be - and you do have to ask why they’re not staying in their countries of origin. Go figure which you’d accept." Exactly what the Native Americans said when the Europeans appeared and took over the dmn country!!! Also, I wonder how many in the Muslim community do you actually know? Have you ever heard of David Koresh or Timothy McVeigh? ALL religions have their crazies.
jerryoneill | Feb 17, 2011, 08:05 PM EST
Any body notice that the religion of love is now everywhere and in 10 years the moslem population will be greater than the indigenous population. At that time will these countries be voted into Sharia laws Look around. England,, France, Germany etc. will have a larger molslem population that of their own.The Koran says what the religion wants is to dominate the world. Anyone see a pattern?
sirpeter | Feb 15, 2011, 06:49 AM EST
maloney ;))
Searlit | Feb 14, 2011, 10:41 PM EST
Little girls dressed like nuns. Look how sad they look. I thought democratic countries stood for self-determination. This is a human rights issue, disguised as a religious one. Very sad and disturbing!
maloney | Feb 14, 2011, 08:35 PM EST
Sirpeter..well done LOL!
sirpeter | Feb 14, 2011, 07:22 PM EST
No I won't be giving out the dead pigs at all. I did suggest we drag you over and impale your ass on the spire in Dublin,just as a warning to the Muslims that this is what we do to people who spout bullsh*t.
WoundedKnee | Feb 14, 2011, 11:17 AM EST
sirpeter: "Every parish is to be given at least one dead pig". You volunteering?
WoundedKnee | Feb 14, 2011, 11:17 AM EST
That was just what Ireland need--tens of thousands of Muslims. Of course I guess the Irish can't complain--they somehow managed to import 100.000 Africans in the space of just a few years, together with a quarter million Poles. It's like the United Nations now in downtown Dublin. Everybody shouting in different languages. (Of course youi won't hear any Irish). What a dump. Soon the Irish will be so rare that they'll have to wear little green stars to identify themselves.
ShamrockShore | Feb 14, 2011, 09:24 AM EST
Multiculturism does not work. You merely create ghettos. Any immigrant should adopt the culture of the host nation. Immigration is a two way street. If you don't like the culture of the state in which you aspire to live ...... go and emigrate elsewhere. And if this means homogenising your religious beliefs, then do. After all, there is but one God - or so we're told.
sirpeter | Feb 14, 2011, 08:50 AM EST
ronnie4u2o..Yeah Ronnie..They will take over by force..But the Irish are well armed. The government are giving every household, a pound of sausages and a few slices of ham to throw at the Muslims. Every parish is to be given at least one dead pig to bury on any plot of land, if the Mussies want to build a mosque,unclean soil then you see. Upstairs for thinking,downstairs for dancing ;))
ronnie4u2o | Feb 14, 2011, 01:50 AM EST
What do the Irish Catholics think of the Growing number of Muslims in Ireland ?? that is the Question i think it needs to be Addressed by Native Irish & the Church !! Will the Muslims take over Ireland by Force ? and will they suppress Christianity ?? 40.000 & Growing that can lead to problems in the near Future.
sirpeter | Feb 13, 2011, 10:04 PM EST
Muslims don't half scare people..ha ha.
CitizenWhy | Feb 13, 2011, 09:08 PM EST
Aren't Cowan, Sarozy and Merkel secret Muslims, baptized in to the faith by Obama? Charles & Camilla too. It's already too late! Give up.
gorgeous | Feb 13, 2011, 06:30 PM EST
tHE Irish people needs to wake up. You are a very small island nation. 40.000.00 Muslims there already. Muslim religion and law are one and the same. Their religion is entertwined with their law. When the second generation of educated Muslims run for Government positions which I am sure they will to represent their people, what then, what happens to democracy and women's issues. Wake up before it is too late. Just look at the mess the present Government has left the counry in. Ireland was suppressed for 800 years by the English and now they are being saddled with huge tax increases which it will take 3 generations to pay off because of disasterous decisions made by their Government. Irish citizens get involved with decisions being made by your Government which eventually affects every single Irish person.
teddybear | Feb 13, 2011, 06:17 PM EST
Ireland,, Please be careful.
jacersagain | Feb 13, 2011, 04:43 PM EST
So what if Muslims in Ireland are only 40,000 strong or 1 percent of the population? Jesus Christ started out with 12 men of peace. These 40,000 are not people of peace, though they claim to be - and you do have to ask why they’re not staying in their countries of origin. Go figure which you’d accept.
greensod | Feb 13, 2011, 03:43 PM EST
Folks, I would be a hell of a lot more worried about FF and FG than a few Muslims.
pebopeep | Feb 13, 2011, 02:58 PM EST
Truth is, when Shiria Law becomes the law of the land when the Muslim population hits the half way mark. (What in 20-25 years) Little Irish kids will have to cover their faces or be lashed. Not true? Right? WRONG. They will take over and you will all be runnin over here to The USA to get away. Then when your here a while, you can start bashin our system, then we will become Mexico and have drug cartels runnin in the streets. Irish Brainiacs.
pebopeep | Feb 13, 2011, 02:53 PM EST
Yea, Typical. Dont post the truth.
belcarra | Feb 13, 2011, 02:53 PM EST
lets get rid of the muslim's in Ireland before it's too late.
pndirishandprou | Feb 13, 2011, 02:29 PM EST
@maloney, in case you did't know, I tell you who has been taking away the freedom of the Irish: the Catholic church, not the tiny minority of moslem immigrants, stupid. You are just one of those seemingly uneducated xenophobes who get their news feed from the New York Post and other low-life media who equal Islam with suicide bombers. Yes, integration and integrability of foreign immigrants is a delicate matter in every country, and Europe, including Ireland, has a very bad track record of integrating its newcomers. But that discussion certainly goes way over your simple-minded head.
Nicomax | Feb 13, 2011, 02:16 PM EST
"Taking over our country" was the primal fear of the Boston Brahmins when the surge of Irish farmers and laborers emerged in Boston Harbor. If we insist all residents, no matter where they come from, nor their religion, are subject to the secular laws of a nation, then it will all work out.
maloney | Feb 13, 2011, 01:47 PM EST
it's not about religion or foreigners, it's about people who want to take over your country & the world for that matter & cut off your head, it is about freedom, stupid.
pndirishandprou | Feb 13, 2011, 01:17 PM EST
Muslims in Ireland account for less than 1% of the population, yet the anti-foreigner and anti-anything-but-Catholic lobby is out swinging again. Instead of reflecting on the damage the Catholic church has done to Eire throughout the tortured history of this country, the xenophobes have nothing better to do than attacking foreigners and members of other religions. Instead of vilifying individual religions selectively why don't we just put all religions where they belong in a modern, secular and free society: to the periphery, far away from power and influence over the lives of it citizens. In a modern democracy freedom from religion is as important as freedom of religion.
jacersagain | Feb 13, 2011, 01:15 PM EST
To make yor mind up on this see Youtube dot com/watch?v=a60A3mw2XgQ&feature=related
peterson | Feb 13, 2011, 01:13 PM EST
I hear that in the U. I see that in the U.S., the students can not pray in school----except for the Muslims,--they are permitted to, and it does not seem right.
Dublinjas | Feb 13, 2011, 12:31 PM EST
I just don't seem to be able to get very excited or happy about the increase in population of a group that considers me an infidel, and whose main ambition is to eradicate me, and comes to my town and is welcomed and encouraged in their goal.
Dublinjas | Feb 13, 2011, 12:14 PM EST
This is the same as the invasion of the body snatchers. These people don't assimilate into host countries, they try to force the host countries to assimilate into them. Multi culturalism only destroys its host countries.
RitaDevine | Feb 13, 2011, 11:42 AM EST
It's a mistake.
srdools | Feb 13, 2011, 11:13 AM EST
Take a good long look at what the heads of the UK,FRANCE and GERMANY have said recently about the results of their diversity'experience. It's a disaster there and it will be a disaster for IRELAND the Irish too.
HorsesInMdstrm | Feb 13, 2011, 09:35 AM EST
@baloney, oops sorry @maloney - you never disappoint with your views.
maloney | Feb 13, 2011, 09:03 AM EST
You'll be sorry.