Tir Conaill Abu

I really dont think the government are interested in the opinions of county boards. It was suprising they wanted to invest in the GAA in first place, so beggers cant be choosers in a case like this

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 15/10/2014 13:52:26    1663925

Again boys, simple question and try and leave Clones out of it for now.

Where are you going to provide the parking ??.
I ask this because I believe it's going to be a park and ride facility five miles from the stadium at the Maze site. Well, can you imagine what that is going to be like. Park your car - queue up to get on a bus - make the journey - watch the game - queue up to get back on a bus back out to the car park - and finally queue up in your car to get back out of the place. You'd be lucky to be home by Monday. There appears to be very little joined up thinking about all of this and smacks as other posters have alluded to as political tinkering.

drumlinbelt (Monaghan) - Posts: 179 - 15/10/2014 14:22:50    1663943

drumlinbelt

never heard about anything involving the Maze but i did say that the leisure centre complex would be part of the refurbishment...its only 200 metres from casement if that answers your question.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 15/10/2014 14:29:30    1663948

SaffronDon - Will the leisure centre complex accommodate a few thousand cars, as it will need to if this is the car park solution. Interesting !!.

drumlinbelt (Monaghan) - Posts: 179 - 15/10/2014 14:45:23    1663956

Tir Conaill, ss I've said this project is being funded mainly by the British government, not the Ulster Council. In a way it is always going to be political to a degree where this stadium is built, but he who pays the piper calls the tune. Do you seriously expect them to consider ploughing 60 million into a venue outside of their jurisdiction? Belfast deserves to be first choice. When you look at the stadiums in already Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway etc. Surely it is only right that Belfast gets an opportunity to get a decent GAA stadium in line with other major population centres in Ireland. GAA in Belfast needs proper development and the stadium could kick start that. Parking is certainly something that needs to be looked at, but is parking any worse than other venues, Croke Park included?
If the Belfast project is rejected then we need to move on and look at moving this to a central location in South Tyrone area which has good road links and is central within the province. It is almost inconceivable that Belfast would allow an golden opportunity like this slip through their fingers, but that might just happen.

johnboy7 (Tyrone) - Posts: 79 - 15/10/2014 15:00:55    1663963

multi story apparently, with a lane to the motorway.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 15/10/2014 15:03:34    1663966

Drumlitbelt.......... I know you say leave Clones out of it but actually in the whole argument this is not possible. I see another poster mentioned the walk in Dublin..... fair point however it is a city and whilst the walk can be long there is an abundance of acceptable facilities on the way. There will always be issues with parking around major stadiums and it is a problem which is not confined to Ireland. Walking miles along country roads in Clones, having pay crazy prices to park in a muddy fjeld is the reality for GAA fans. However lets look at the facilities we are there for because that is whats important in particular for the players. The Executive in the North which if we like it or not comes from the tax payers of the 6 counties plus other state grants has offered a huge amount of money to build a state of the art stadium, people call it political ..... I would refer to it as equality. If Ulster already had such a stadium fair enough I would understand the objections however I feel actually the objections on here from other Ulster Geals is actually political. Why wouldnt we want a mini croke park in Ulster for generations of players and fans to enjoy, parking will be an issue anywhere but major cities can cope much better with motorways, train stations, major bus stations and new improvements to make access to these easier. I think there is an ussue with Monaghan losing the flagship stadium however as another poster says Ulster is made up of 9 counties and the interests of all needs yo be considered. If money came from another avenue fair enough we would have more options but currentlt it will have to be within the 6 counties and Casement is preferred option at the minute. Hopefully it gets go ahead or we could be back to 'lovely' Clones for a while.... the thought.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 15/10/2014 15:18:17    1663973

Sam1884
The money is coming mostly from the NI government so naturally Clones, Breffni etc are non-runners. I have my reservations about Casement but would have reservations about other venues too. The bottom line is that no venue is going to be perfect but it was the way that Casement was chosen without consultation with the people that will be eventually using the facilities that really grinds on me.

If I was to be selfish I'd prefer the money to be spent on a venue closer to mid-Ulster as it would shorten the journey for us Donegal folk that don't have rail connection or motorway to avail off unlike most who would avail of a Casement redevelopment. If I was to hazard a guess the priorities of gaels from the wee 3 would be very low on the priority list of the people making the decisions on the Casement project!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 15/10/2014 15:37:45    1663979

Drumlin,

We can open the falls park to allow you to park there given your desire to park in fields and its around 1 mile from the pitch so itll be like home from home!

I also often have heard the same comment that most Ulster Gaels do not want Casement to be redeveloped,however, as there are no reports/statistics to prove either way then i'll treat it as nonsense until shown otherwise.

It will be built and will go ahead despite the begrudgers and MORA and will be a success.

Btw the different county grounds in the North will be next on the list for upgrading thanks to the taxpayer!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 15/10/2014 15:45:03    1663985

Tir Conaill I understand Casement would not be your first choice from a travel point of view. To understand why it was chosen we need to go back to the beginning of this. The original plan was to build one "National" stadium for Soccer, GAA and Rugby at the Maze, which was to be funded by the government. Ofcourse in true NI tradition, politics came into it and agreement could not be reached. The plan then was to split the funding amongst the 3 sporting bodies to redevelop their existing grounds, Windsor Park, Ravenhill and Casement. It was from the original Maze project to develop a single stadium in the Greater Belfast area that this came about. I think when it was split in 3 there was a certain assumption that the 3 venues would also be in this catchment area, hence Casement Park. I'm not sure if the Ulster Council would been allowed to take this money outside of Belfast even if they wanted to. In any case there is a compelling case for placing the stadium in the largest centre of population in the province which has been traditionally overlooked by the GAA.
While I understand your objections, I don't think the opinions of the various Ulster counties would have any weight in this even if they had been consulted more, as this from the beginning was a government funded plan to improve sporting stadia in the Belfast area.If this falls through however I hope we are given an opportunity to retain the funding relocate the plans to another area.

johnboy7 (Tyrone) - Posts: 79 - 15/10/2014 16:01:28    1663990

Johnboy7
I agree that the GAA really were handed money to use with certain strings attached. These strings were not in the best interest of the whole of the GAA fraternity in Ulster and were of a political interest. The big question is that when this development is completed will it be in the best interest of the GAA people in Ulster as a whole to have many events in it? If a consultation was undertaken by the Ulster Council from delegates of each county I would like to see the results of what the concerns are for Casement and what can and can't be addressed.
If the money would be lost by not investing in Casement then I'd certainly take the hand off them before it is withdrawn but I just hate politics deciding issues to do with the best interests of the GAA people in Ulster who will continue to fund the operation costs of all Ulster venues through championship attendance.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 15/10/2014 21:59:49    1664170

Whats wrong with clones? or Breffni? We have 2 30000 plus stadiums to play in. Belfast would not be anywhere near as good as clones in terms of atmosphere. another massive waste of money in store if this goes ahead.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 16/10/2014 10:20:48    1664179

ps the distance is not an issue. It is the location of casement. All you can do is park, go to a game, go you your car and leave. There is nothing to see or do in the area, no atmosphere, and it will thus be a flop

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 16/10/2014 11:09:53    1664193

It'll be a sad day when the Ulster final is taken from Clones.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 16/10/2014 11:22:43    1664202

Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1682

1664193
ps the distance is not an issue. It is the location of casement. All you can do is park, go to a game, go you your car and leave. There is nothing to see or do in the area, no atmosphere, and it will thus be a flop

As opposed to Clones' burgeoning gallery scene and café culture!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 16/10/2014 11:38:41    1664207

'ps the distance is not an issue. It is the location of casement. All you can do is park, go to a game, go you your car and leave. There is nothing to see or do in the area, no atmosphere, and it will thus be a flop'


Enlighten us further about wonders of the world that exist in and around Clones please that are obviously more impressive than Ireland's second city!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 16/10/2014 11:43:54    1664210

I agree pat if you're from that area, however, like those in the anti-casement brigade(based mainly in the west) there are similar parking and travel issues for those from the east of the province currently. Whats that oul expression about pleasing some people some of the time............!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 16/10/2014 11:48:14    1664212

I agree pat if you're from that area, however, like those in the anti-casement brigade(based mainly in the west) there are similar parking and travel issues for those from the east of the province currently. Whats that oul expression about pleasing some people some of the time............!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 16/10/2014 11:48:15    1664213

bumpernut
County: Antrim
Posts: 709

1663837
Go for it Gary, heres your favourite topic!

Well It's true, I never seen the logic in building what clearly is an "Ulster GAA stadium" primarily for the 9 county Ulster GAA, and locate it in the extreme East of the Province.

Now I'm not happy that Casement is not getting a facelift just yet, as I do think a redeveloped Casement would be great. But not at that kinda money.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 16/10/2014 14:51:16    1664291

Now I'm not happy that Casement is not getting a facelift just yet, as I do think a redeveloped Casement would be great. But not at that kinda money.


I don't quite understand the logic behind this kind of parochial thinking and the Clones Forever brigade. The Casement redevelopment is being majority funded by the British government and at this point is the only show in town. That is where that "kinda money" is coming from, not the GAA. Is Clones such a great place that we should tell them to keep the money, we are grand as we are. It was a hard fight to get this funding and I'm sure there are plenty in Stormont who would be delighted to take it back off the GAA. Are you really going to look a once in a lifetime 24 carrot gold gift horse in the mouth just because you prefer Clones or don't like Belfast?? Get real.

johnboy7 (Tyrone) - Posts: 79 - 16/10/2014 15:51:44    1664328