Gerry Gannon, a leading property developer, has lodged a planning application with Dublin City Council for an $84 million Islamic Cultural Centre including a large mosque at Clongriffin in north Dublin.

One of the largest development projects in its planning stages in Ireland, the 18,000sq m (195,000sq ft) facility will serve the 40,000Muslims living in Dublin city, with a capacity to host 5,000 people at a time.

According to reports in the Irish Times, “a Dublin-based Muslim group with support from many parts of the world has agreed purchase terms for the six-acre site located close to the Gannon-funded Dart station.”

Previous reports in the Irish Times stated that the new development, “could put Ireland in a very favorable position in the Muslim world and lead to significant inward investment.”

The development will include the mosque and support facilities, including a 34-classroom school, conference centre, assembly hall, playground and swimming pool. It has been designed by Paula Gill of architects Conroy Crowe Kelly.