Plans for new cultural centre in Limerick approved

LIMERICK City and County Council has afforded conditional planning permission for a new Islamic Cultural Centre.

Ghousia Masjid has secured the green light from council planners for the development in Sexton Street, a short distance away from Limerick’s bus and rail station.

He wants to transform a former repair garage in the street into what is described as a “two-storey cultural centre and place of worship.”

A new first floor is planned at the site located opposite Sexton Street CBS.

According to a floor outline provided to council planners, the majority of each floor will comprise of a musalla which is a space mainly used for prayers by members of the Islam faith.

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An ablution fountain is also planned for both floors, used for worshippers to perform their ritual washing before prayer.

The council requested extra information on the application prior to it being granted. A summary of this was signed off by executive planner Jennifer Collins and senior executive planner Barry Henn.

In it, the summary records how the applicant has stated the cultural centre will provide a contemporary space serving both the Muslim and non-Muslim community. “The centre will operate throughout the year and will open regularly for circa three hours at various times throughout the day, during religious festivals and for community events and gatherings as planned,” council stated.

The planners added that a single sign of around 1.3 square metres is planned on the front of the building.

“The sign is of black marble with gold inlay text and lines. No illumination is proposed,” the statement said.

The development comes after previous plans for a culture centre just yards away were scrapped. Previously planning permission was sought to knock three derelict buildings in Wickham Street and build a four-storey centre at its junction with Parnell Street, Sexton Street and Upper Gerald Griffin Street.

But the developer stated in meetings with council planners that due to “constraints” including “limited size and construction costs”, they cannot take up the option of using this area.

Council has granted planning permission for the Sexton Street development subject to nine conditions. It includes a stipulation that no external amplified sound or music system is installed or operated on site. Construction work can only take place between 8am and 7pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 4pm on Saturday.

No work is permitted on Sundays or public holidays.