I overheard a group of sheep farmers in Kilkenny mart on Monday commending with glee on the decision to open GAA headquarters early. Not knowing the full context my mind started to wander. A return of matches? Concerts? Another papal visit?

Well none of these were right, but the sheep farmers are delighted with a decision made by the GAA hierarchy to have Croker host the Muslim festival of Eid al Adha which takes place at the end of the month.

Coronavirus restrictions mean that mosques can only accommodate a maximum of 100 worshippers in an indoor setting, which would leave many followers missing out on this important festival.

So why are sheep farmers happy? The Muslim festival of Eid al Adha has underpinned the strongest demand for sheepmeat in recent years and is responsible for the highest weekly throughput in the week preceding and depending on how it falls the week of the festival.

Celebration

To understand why Eid al Adha is so important to sheep farmers we need to look at the traditions of the festival. Muslims celebrate through prayer and also traditionally offered a sacrifice of a sheep, goat, cow or camel to commemorate the story of the prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith. The tradition includes the sharing of a slaughtered animal, with one third maintained, one third given to friends and family and the final third to poorer members of society or those in need. In Europe consumption of lamb and goat significantly increases.

Difficult year

In welcoming the staging of the celebration in Croke Park, GAA president John Horan said: “Normally Croke Park and our other stadia would be a hive of activity at this time of the year with the staging of games but we are living through a very different year.

“We are delighted to welcome members of the Muslim Community to Croke Park to mark Eid Al Adha, an important date in the Muslim calendar. I believe the staging of this celebration fully supports our commitment to inclusion and a GAA welcome linked to our belief that it’s ‘Where We All Belong’."

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council (IMPIC) chair, Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, said: “Many people living in Ireland who are members of the Muslim faith call Ireland home. Irish Muslims have contributed significantly in many sectors across our country, especially the health sector.

“The choice of Croke Park as a venue for Eid al Adha celebration will be symbolic to Irish Muslims in their ‘dual-identity’ as being both Irish and Muslim and the significance that Croke Park and the GAA have in Irish history. The historic Muslim celebration of Eid Al Adha at Croke Park this year will be a positive representation of Ireland’s growing diversity of many different faiths and communities.”