Omagh’s Syrian population celebrate second Muslim festival

THE SYRIAN population in Omagh gathered in the town’s Community House to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The four-day Eid al-Adha festival started on Saturday with prayers (Salat al-Eid) that began right after sunrise.

As with Eid al- Fitr, Muslims will spend time attending religious services, meeting up with family and friends to exchange gifts, dressing up, and preparing their homes to welcome guests. This is also a time when Muslims make charitable donations to those in need.

Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Barry McElduff, said he enjoyed learning about the festival and meeting people from other cultures who reside in the council area.

“It was a pleasure to meet the Syrian community and hear how they plan to celebrate this festival. Our communities are changing with many different nationalities now residing within the district and it is wonderful to see the diversity each culture brings.

“As a council, we welcome our new communities, and we wish to support these communities to settle here and to feel welcome.”