Antrim county board chairman Ciaran McCavanagh has said that a redeveloped Casement Park will be "a game-changer" for the city of Belfast.

Yesterday (Tuesday) saw a legal challenge against a decision to grant planning approval for the redevelopment of the Belfast stadium dismissed.

It means the way is now clear for Antrim GAA’s home ground to be redeveloped after years of delay, with McCavanagh saying he expects redevelopment work to commence next year and be completed in 2025.

"We've had two judicial reviews and we've had to go through planning twice, but any obstacle that was set in front of we just had to overcome it because the gaels of Antrim need a home," said McCavanagh.

"We're hoping to commence in 2023 and have the stadium built and completed by 2025.

"We're looking forward to seeing young gaels going to see their heroes in the LGFA, camogie, peil agus iománaíocht playing on the green, green grass of Casement again, our spiritual home."

He added: "Remember, this stadium isn't just for the gaels of Antrim; it's also for the gaels of Ulster and the rest of the country.

"We're very excited about seeing Casement getting built. It'll be a game-changer in Belfast. It'll bring great revenue into the city, with tourists, with people travelling to matches, people staying in the city, and we'll get to showcase our Gaelic games."

Time to build Casement! Today’s unambiguous court ruling is very significant. The transformational benefits of this iconic stadium for the whole community can now be realised #BuildCasement pic.twitter.com/tdKfhPd0NK

— Casement Park (@CasementPark) May 31, 2022

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