More than 40 people came together in Cork last week to help identify “a desired vision for Muslim-Christian relations” over the next five years.
Gerry Forde, administrator of Cois Tine, the multicultural organisation that convened the workshop, told Metro Éireann that the event – which was attended by both Muslim clerics and Catholic priests – also “more importantly” looked at ways to achieve its stated mission.
He continued: “The need for education to improve mutual understanding and for practical interaction between Muslims and Christians was highlighted, as was the role of leaders in the Muslim and Christian community to promote dialogue and co-operation.”
Forde said the feedback from the unique event was “very positive”, adding that a follow-up event has already been planned to give people another opportunity to participate.
The workshop, he added, is relevant in the context of a growing Muslim population in Ireland. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting held at Wilton Parish Centre, Cois Tine said figures to come from the most recent Census would reveal that about 45,000 people in Ireland are Muslims, and that 15,000 of them are Irish by birth, descent or naturalisation.
“There are now between 4,000 and 5,000 Muslims living in the Cork region,” according to Cois Tine, who noted that “a site for a new mosque and Islamic centre has been acquired on the Tramore Road and planning permission has been granted by Cork City Council”.
When the mosque is completed, it would “mark the fact” that Muslims and Christians are both part of the city and the community.
However, the organisation warned that “co-existence is not enough – we need to build an inclusive and integrated society, and relations between Muslims and Christians will be an important part of this process.”
The workshop is one of a number of projects supported by European Commission under the European Integration Fund and the Department of Justice Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration.
