Muslims in Galway are to appeal their local council’s rejection of their efforts to retain a controversial mosque. It was operated without planning permission.
The Western Islamic Cultural Centre has lodged an objection with An Bord Pleanála, against the refusal, by Galway City Council, to grant it retrospective planning permission for the use of a house at Mincloon, Rahoon, on the western outskirts of the city, as a place of worship.
The application would have allowed the centre to continue to use the building for assembly for prayer in November.
The application had been opposed by a number of residents in the Rahoon area, who complained that there had been intensification of the use of the building, which was in a rural area without any public lighting or footpaths.