The new Islamic Cultural Centre at Clonskeagh in south Dublin was opened yesterday by the President, Mrs Robinson.
The 5,000 square metre centre, one of the largest in Europe, contains a main mosque capable of holding more than 1,000 people, two smaller prayer halls, a five classroom extension to the Muslim national school, a multi purpose sports hall, a library, an exhibition hall, an information centre, an administration block, a women's education and social centre, a shop, a restaurant and eight apartments.
It cost £5 million to build and was funded by the Al Maktoum family from the United Arab Emirates. They own stud farms and other properties in Kildare and Meath. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who with the President was guest of honour yesterday, is vice ruler of Dubai and Minister for Finance and Industry of the UAE.
Sheikh Hamdan hoped the centre would "give the right picture of the Muslims - Islam is not about terrorism, it is not what you have heard about it".
In her speech before the unveiling ceremony the President said the Islamic Cultural Centre was "a welcome addition to the religious and cultural life of the city".
She hoped it would be "a beacon of understanding and tolerance and would encourage a greater understanding of Islamic faith and culture among us".
The Muslim community had "a rising profile in Irish national life" in business, politics, culture and sport, particularly horse racing, she went on.
She was presented with a golden sword by the head of the community, the Imam, Mr Yahya Al Hussein. Earlier she had visited the extension to the 206 pupil Muslim national school, where a group of pupils recited Mise Eire.
Also attending yesterday's ceremony was Mr Yussuf Islam, formerly the English pop singer Cat Stevens, who is now chairman of an Islamic girls' school in London. He was introduced to President Robinson while she was being shown the main mosque, and joked that he had been "a singer of some well known Gaelic melodies".
His latest album of readings and songs is called The Life of the Last Prophet.
He said he had met the Dublin group Boyzone, who have recorded one of his songs, adding that they appeared to be a nice, clean living group of lads".
Among the politicians who attended were the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, the Minister of State, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald and TDs Mr Alan Shatter, Mr Tom Kitt, Ms Liz O'Donnell and Dr Moosajee Bhamjee.
Religious leaders present included Dr Eamonn Walsh, auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, the Very Rev John Paterson, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, and the Ven Gordon Linney, Archdeacon of Dublin.
There was a large contingent of ambassadors and embassy officials, Dublin and London based, from Muslim and Arab countries. These were headed by the United Arab Emirates ambassador, Mr Easa Saleh Al Gurg, and the ambassadors of Jordan, Morocco, Oman, and Syria.