‘Make no mistake, Casement will be built’ – Ulster GAA President

THE President of Ulster GAA, Ciaran McLaughlin, has said there is an ‘understanding and obligation’ from both the Stormont Assembly and the British Government that the new Casement Park will be built.

He was speaking as it emerged that the cost of re-developing the historic Belfast stadium was now an estimated £308 million in what has since been described as a ‘worst-case scenario.

Reports of the figure and comments from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Chris Heaton-Harris – that the UK Government will not accept a position where it is ‘expected to cover’ the scale of the funding gap are a setback as the row over funding the re-development continues.

But Mr McLaughlin urged more than 400 GAA members from across Ulster at the Gaelic Life Club Allstars event last night, to be ‘positive’ about the new stadium.

“Earlier on tonight we got another kick from another angle about Casement. Casement from our perspective is a promise that was made to us and we have started the enabling works on the grounds and we have fulfilled our requirements,” he said.

“The Irish Government have come on because the GAA brought them on board. Make no mistake as gaels that the GAA got the Irish Government on board as a partner.

“What is left now is for the Assembly and the UK Government to get together and decide what they want to do. We have an understanding and an obligation from them that they are going to build the stadium for our Association like they did for the other two (rugby and soccer).

“We are committed to that and despite what you might read coming out tomorrow and the day after, please do be positive about the building of the stadium because it is going to be your stadium. The young people deserve a stadium that is going to take them into the 25th century, never mind the 21st.

“Please, stay positive because it is going to get built.”

It is hoped that the stadium will be ready by the summer of 2027, ahead of hosting matches in the 2028 European Championships. Last week a delegation from UEFA visited Belfast to view Casement Park, which has not been used for gaelic games for more than a decade.