Eid celebrations in Cavan

The Muslim community in Cavan celebrated the end of Ramadan on Friday (March 20) with Eid-al-fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast.

The mosque is bustling with people leaving the morning prayer. ‘Eid Mubarak’, meaning ‘Blessed Eid’ can be heard all around Cavan’s Islamic Community and Education Centre, as people dressed in traditional clothing embrace each other and wish each other well.

At the centre of all the festivities are children, many of whom are running around the centre in brand new clothes purchased especially for this day. It’s traditional to give children sweet treats during this festival, and together some of the women have prepared goodie bags for them. Included in the bags are cheese and onion Tayto crisps.

“It’s very different [celebrating here], but everything has its own beauty,” secretary of the Cavan Islamic Community and Education Centre Aon Waqas Awan tells the Celt.

Their community mostly comprises Muslims from Pakistan, Sudan, Turkiye, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Bangladesh who come from all parts of the county to worship.

“In the home country we are more connected to our family members during this festival, but here we are all family.

“Here everybody is so connected.”

Eid normally lasts for three days and is a “day of reward” for Muslims, who have just completed their one-month fast. In the female section of the mosque, the Celt learns more about the celebrations. The previous evening was spent cleaning, baking and drawing traditional henna tattoos on each other’s hands. Now trays of baked treats lie waiting on tables, and the day will be spent praying and visiting friends.

“The things that you stopped during the Ramadan, now you are open to do everything,” Aon Waqas explains.

The concept of Ramadan teaches “patience” in “everything” and he likens it to an “energy drink for the whole year” ahead.

“It’s like training, for one month we pray more. We are not eating, we are more punctual,” he explains, describing how the Muslim community feel “sad” when Ramadan finishes.

“Ramadan to Ramadan, all the minor sins that we do, if we fast they are forgiven.”

“We recite a lot of the Quran [holy book] during this time.”

Also known as the charity month, each year they collect Zakat which is a “compulsory” donation, with the amount decided based on each family’s wealth.

They estimate there are around 250 Muslim households in Cavan who worship at the centre.

“It’s increasing a lot, in the last two years the community almost doubled.”

“Sixty to seventy percent of people are medical doctors here,” he continues.

Meanwhile, the centre hopes to expand their community in the future.