By John Harrington

500 members of Ireland’s Muslim community celebrated Eid al-Adha at Croke Park today.

It is the second year in succession that the celebrations have been held at Headquarters, and GAA Presiden Larry McCarthy told those gathered it was “a great pleasure” to welcome the Muslim community back.

The Eid prayers were led by Skaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri from Blanchardstown Mosque who paraphrased the legendary Cork hurler who Christy Ring who once said, “Let no-one say the best hurlers belong to the past, they are with us now and better yet to come.”

Dr Al-Qadri suggested the same sentiment holds true for Irelands Muslim community – better days are yet to come – and said he was “eternally grateful” the GAA made Croke Park available again for a “unique and special” moment.