National Forum

Casement Park

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Replying To clooney:  "I am not totally up to date on the politics but I hope to God they build a spanking 40,000 plus Stadium that Antrim & Ulster can be proud of it would do wonders for GAA promotion"
Filled once a year (maybe) for an actual GAA event, the Ulster football final. A white elephant the rest of the year like the one in Cork. If the Brits weren't paying a share of it, there wouldn't even be a debate on this. It's a political football alright but not just on the orange side.

Municipal stadiums are the way to go. That's what Croke Park effectively is now anyway. Look at how ridiculous the situation is in Limerick with two stadiums a mile apart.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 595 - 20/06/2025 18:05:41    2619525

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "Is there not a green field site on the outskirts of Belfast where they can build a proper stadium at a slightly cheaper rate?

And turn Casement Park into a community pitch.

Why is there such a drive to get a development done where space seems tight"
Why don't they sell the site ? It not being used and surrounded by houses. It was the local community who appealed originally because it was overbearing.

GAA should sell the site and start fresh somewhere else.

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 342 - 21/06/2025 08:22:27    2619569

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Filled once a year (maybe) for an actual GAA event, the Ulster football final. A white elephant the rest of the year like the one in Cork. If the Brits weren't paying a share of it, there wouldn't even be a debate on this. It's a political football alright but not just on the orange side.

Municipal stadiums are the way to go. That's what Croke Park effectively is now anyway. Look at how ridiculous the situation is in Limerick with two stadiums a mile apart."
I agree with everything bar the notion that this isn't a political issue for the orange brethren... it very much is an issue & an issue they like to beat the GAA with. There's already calls for more money on the 'other' side for more funding for various things. That is not going to change unfortunately so the GAA now need to get on and get this stadium built. Connacht Rugby is building a stand at the moment which I believe should be used as a template to bring forward full re-design of Casement & which could get capacity up to 35k with a mix of seating (including Corporate) & standing. In fairness to Cork, they got PUC built for around €120mil so £200mil should be well achievable even with cost inflation.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2216 - 21/06/2025 13:41:34    2619616

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Replying To Kew:  "Why don't they sell the site ? It not being used and surrounded by houses. It was the local community who appealed originally because it was overbearing.

GAA should sell the site and start fresh somewhere else."
When and why did they stop using it for club games ?

19616609 (Louth) - Posts: 1751 - 23/07/2025 14:33:00    2627457

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Replying To Square_B:  "I agree with everything bar the notion that this isn't a political issue for the orange brethren... it very much is an issue & an issue they like to beat the GAA with. There's already calls for more money on the 'other' side for more funding for various things. That is not going to change unfortunately so the GAA now need to get on and get this stadium built. Connacht Rugby is building a stand at the moment which I believe should be used as a template to bring forward full re-design of Casement & which could get capacity up to 35k with a mix of seating (including Corporate) & standing. In fairness to Cork, they got PUC built for around €120mil so £200mil should be well achievable even with cost inflation."
The original plan was a single stadium for Northern Ireland, Ulster rugby and GAA.

That made perfect sense and would have been an excellent choice.

GAA agreed to it and then politics got in the way.

It should be way to go for sure.
Dublin should also have a 30k municipal stadium for all codes. I understand pitch issues with the different codes but a 30k stadium with excellent public transport and facilities would be perfect for Leinster rugby, Dublin league matches and big FAI matches eg in Europe etc.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 503 - 24/07/2025 11:40:54    2627648

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Replying To shaggykev:  "The original plan was a single stadium for Northern Ireland, Ulster rugby and GAA.

That made perfect sense and would have been an excellent choice.

GAA agreed to it and then politics got in the way.

It should be way to go for sure.
Dublin should also have a 30k municipal stadium for all codes. I understand pitch issues with the different codes but a 30k stadium with excellent public transport and facilities would be perfect for Leinster rugby, Dublin league matches and big FAI matches eg in Europe etc."
It's a crying shame what happened. And the gas thing is that Belfast still needs a municipal stadium. There's isn't one stadium up there that could hold a decent crowd... case in point when Ulster Rugby had to play a match at the Aviva in recent years. And you're right, Dublin needs one as well. Tallaght was an opportunity missed but perhaps the Spawell might be the opportunity to do that.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2216 - 25/07/2025 08:16:59    2627827

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Sense has been seen. Casement Park to be rebuilt as a 15 to 20,000 capacity stadium. Ulster Finals will remain at the spiritual home of Ulster football.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1148 - 03/07/2026 12:25:29    2683893

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https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41873346.html

Full disclosure, I have a strong bias towards Clones. But seriously, how can Casement Park be considered a provincial ground now? Clones on Ulster Final day with 29,000 capacity tickets go like hot cakes and Ulster Council want to move it to a potentially even smaller venue going forward. What am I missing here?

Build a new Casement Park at a cost similar to Louth's new stadium and allow it to be Antrim's county ground. The determination by Ulster Council to move the Ulster Final from Clones is nauseating.

Monaghansclown (Monaghan) - Posts: 202 - 03/07/2026 12:35:48    2683899

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Replying To Square_B:  "It's a crying shame what happened. And the gas thing is that Belfast still needs a municipal stadium. There's isn't one stadium up there that could hold a decent crowd... case in point when Ulster Rugby had to play a match at the Aviva in recent years. And you're right, Dublin needs one as well. Tallaght was an opportunity missed but perhaps the Spawell might be the opportunity to do that."
If as expected Casement Park will now be scaled down to just a 17,000 capacity, then I think this is a missed opportunity tbh.

As for the Spawell for the Dubs, I would much prefer Hollystown. ;o)
As a northsider, I would have to check my passport if the Dubs are to play in Spawell…. lol
;o) lol

Tallaght was most definitely a missed opportunity imo.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5139 - 03/07/2026 12:47:56    2683909

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Sense has been seen. Casement Park to be rebuilt as a 15 to 20,000 capacity stadium. Ulster Finals will remain at the spiritual home of Ulster football."
They should still be able to build a more than adequate stadium with the money available which I understand from the article I read is in the order of £120mil. They'd be best advised to copy the Connacht Rugby stand, one each side and put terraces in. No reason why it couldn't be a 25k capacity stadium. And Clones should be next on the cards for a revamp to get it up to near 35-40k. A brand new stand with hospitality would revitalise the ground.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2216 - 03/07/2026 12:52:18    2683911

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Sense has been seen. Casement Park to be rebuilt as a 15 to 20,000 capacity stadium. Ulster Finals will remain at the spiritual home of Ulster football."
Once that Euro soccer thingy didn't happen it was curtains for the grand plan.
Something like the Armagh Stadium will be more than enough.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 715 - 03/07/2026 13:05:30    2683914

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Once that Euro soccer thingy didn't happen it was curtains for the grand plan.
Something like the Armagh Stadium will be more than enough."
The Armagh Athletic grounds is one of the best in Ireland but not big enough for Ulster finals.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2831 - 03/07/2026 15:58:58    2683967

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Sense has been seen. Casement Park to be rebuilt as a 15 to 20,000 capacity stadium. Ulster Finals will remain at the spiritual home of Ulster football."
Unfortunately, thank God Ulster titles aren't worth it anymore.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2831 - 03/07/2026 15:59:54    2683968

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Replying To Saynothing:  "The Armagh Athletic grounds is one of the best in Ireland but not big enough for Ulster finals."
Armagh is the ideal place for Ulster Semi-Finals. Clones, if it going to be a 25,000+ attendance. Breffni also a gret ground for semi-finals. Fir atmoshere in the Stadium, Armagh the best by a long way. For atmosphere around the venue Cones is tops. Casement was always going to be a white elephant. Should have built the smaller stadium in 2013.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1148 - 03/07/2026 16:23:59    2683983

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Unfortunately, thank God Ulster titles aren't worth it anymore."
To whom? It still seems to be valued by most. When the dust settles on this season Armagh will still be Ulster Champs and Tyrone will have nothing. I know which camp achieved more.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 693 - 03/07/2026 17:24:55    2684006

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I think the top brass in the GAA need to address "the elephant in the room" why is the GAA in Belfast in such dire straits. I understand large sums of money have been invested in Antrim GAA but the footballers are stuck in division 4 in football and the hurlers were nearly relegated from the Joe Mc Donagh in hurling. To be fair Andy Mc Entee did a good job with the footballers in his time there.
A lot of anti-GAA people in the north will see today as a victory but I believe the biggest victory of all would be a ten year plan to make Ireland's second city a GAA stronghold.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 486 - 03/07/2026 17:29:19    2684007

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "I think the top brass in the GAA need to address "the elephant in the room" why is the GAA in Belfast in such dire straits. I understand large sums of money have been invested in Antrim GAA but the footballers are stuck in division 4 in football and the hurlers were nearly relegated from the Joe Mc Donagh in hurling. To be fair Andy Mc Entee did a good job with the footballers in his time there.
A lot of anti-GAA people in the north will see today as a victory but I believe the biggest victory of all would be a ten year plan to make Ireland's second city a GAA stronghold."
Nearly half the population of Belfast are anti GAA, 60% of the rest are soccer orientated.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 715 - 03/07/2026 17:52:58    2684014

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "I think the top brass in the GAA need to address "the elephant in the room" why is the GAA in Belfast in such dire straits. I understand large sums of money have been invested in Antrim GAA but the footballers are stuck in division 4 in football and the hurlers were nearly relegated from the Joe Mc Donagh in hurling. To be fair Andy Mc Entee did a good job with the footballers in his time there.
A lot of anti-GAA people in the north will see today as a victory but I believe the biggest victory of all would be a ten year plan to make Ireland's second city a GAA stronghold."
Would Tyrone and your fellow counties in Ulster be willing to pay for it? Why should counties like ourselves pay for a pet project in Belfast when resources are already stretched? In all fairness, we're already giving over £15 million for a stadium. What is Antrim GAA contributing?

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2216 - 03/07/2026 18:22:37    2684023

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Leaving the politics aside (if that's even possible), it has to be said that the Casement Park site is one of the worst grounds in Ireland in terms of location and atmosphere in the locality. It is a soulless spot stuck in a GAA wasteland. The Athletic Grounds, Marshes, Breffni, and Clones especially, are magic by comparison.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1378 - 03/07/2026 19:14:52    2684038

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