National Forum

Casement Park

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "And there was me thinking Sinn Féin was the biggest Party in the 6 Cos!
I also thought the ground was closed before planning permission was obtained, that the Permission was found illegal, that local residents had a load of issues, that the original funds had depreciated significantly....

But obviously I imagined it all"
If you knew anything about the north you would know that the UK government are always the biggest party regardless of who wins what election here. Planning permission has been granted more than once for this venue and the vast majority of local residents back the stadium rebuild. So yes, you either imagined it all or read the unionist tabloids to suit your own opinion on the stadium.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 11:45:37    2570336

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If the stadium had of been built in a suitable location initially then there wouldn't be an issue.

Trying to push a stadium of this size on an area with serious local resident resentment was crazy. Also the infrastructure around the site is nowhere near suitable for the capacity of the venue.

This project should be built in mid Ulster. A central location close to all Ulster counties. My choice would be in somewhere between Dungannon and Ballygawly. Plenty of prime land with good links to the M1 motorway and the best connections to the North West of the island.

Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 922 - 17/09/2024 11:51:22    2570342

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I hope Casement Park gets refurbished but there is no way there's anything over a 30,000 stadium needed.

Clones should get an upgrade.

eslinchickenmaryland (Leitrim) - Posts: 274 - 17/09/2024 12:19:54    2570350

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Replying To Wally:  "If the stadium had of been built in a suitable location initially then there wouldn't be an issue.

Trying to push a stadium of this size on an area with serious local resident resentment was crazy. Also the infrastructure around the site is nowhere near suitable for the capacity of the venue.

This project should be built in mid Ulster. A central location close to all Ulster counties. My choice would be in somewhere between Dungannon and Ballygawly. Plenty of prime land with good links to the M1 motorway and the best connections to the North West of the island."
Aye sure Croke Park is suffocating the life out of all those poor residents around the stadium too. Move it all out to Mullingar or another one road town, that's the solution.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 12:26:30    2570351

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "If you knew anything about the north you would know that the UK government are always the biggest party regardless of who wins what election here. Planning permission has been granted more than once for this venue and the vast majority of local residents back the stadium rebuild. So yes, you either imagined it all or read the unionist tabloids to suit your own opinion on the stadium."
Bloody DUP closing the Stadium down in 2013??

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1950 - 17/09/2024 12:38:22    2570354

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Only the Irish Government has emerged from this debacle with any credit as they were the only party who pledged new money for the stadium. The levels of Unionist bigotry against the stadium have been off the scale and has shown that the artificial statelet of the North can never work for Nationalists in the North and a United Ireland should be brought about ASAP. The British Government either Labour or Conservative have shown they couldn't care less about the North and can't be trusted. The GAA has displayed incredible greed and stupidity by failing to increase their monetary offer for a stadium for which the costs have trebled ( Jarlath Burns looked incredibly foolish claiming money the Irish Government offered as GAA money). Stormont have done nothing to advance the cause of the stadium and pledged no extra money to get the stadium build up and running.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1673 - 17/09/2024 12:58:11    2570359

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Bloody DUP closing the Stadium down in 2013??"
It's was closed because it was set to be rebuilt. Then came the hold ups, via guess who? That's right, the 3 major unionist parties in the north with DUP and their hatred of all things Irish, leading the charge. Perhaps if you lived here you'd get a better sense for how these things transpire.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 13:01:58    2570361

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "So did you just drive straight home then? Otherwise you DID get a parking space. Then it took you 2 full hours to leave Belfast with the motorway 2 mins from the stadium with 3 lanes in each direction? LOL I know sat nav was new enough back then but a funeral hearse would leave Belfast quicker than you."
Point proven. I rest my case.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 386 - 17/09/2024 13:56:07    2570383

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Replying To Wally:  "If the stadium had of been built in a suitable location initially then there wouldn't be an issue.

Trying to push a stadium of this size on an area with serious local resident resentment was crazy. Also the infrastructure around the site is nowhere near suitable for the capacity of the venue.

This project should be built in mid Ulster. A central location close to all Ulster counties. My choice would be in somewhere between Dungannon and Ballygawly. Plenty of prime land with good links to the M1 motorway and the best connections to the North West of the island."
An alternative site might be best but there's no way it should be built anywhere else but Belfast. Belfast badly needs a multipurpose stadium to cater for all sports and events. Nearly a third of the NI population live within the Belfast metropolitan area and that's where it should be. An upgrade of Clones should happen also.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1023 - 17/09/2024 13:57:39    2570384

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "You clearly haven't a clue what you're talking about which further highlights your agenda along with your lame excuses about the area. Windsor and Ravenhill were built in no time because the DUP ensured that it would happen (no health and safety or concern for residents in similarly built up areas). Casement Park had the same starting point as the other two and the DUP invented any problem they could find to stop the GAA side from happening. They highlighted false health and safety issues. Fixated on a handful of residents who knew where they were living before stadiums plans had begun and who were the minority in an area of thousands of people who DID wanted the stadium rebuilt. They made up figures, knew that figures would grow the more they objected and Casement became a political tennis ball for all to see.

But then who needs enemies to this when you have GAA people from within believing the unionist lies and going along with them because it might be an inconvenience once a year to travel away from their doorstep for an Ulster final."
Now you have definitely shown your ignorance of the situation and proof of your own narrow minded agenda.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 386 - 17/09/2024 14:10:34    2570387

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "It's was closed because it was set to be rebuilt. Then came the hold ups, via guess who? That's right, the 3 major unionist parties in the north with DUP and their hatred of all things Irish, leading the charge. Perhaps if you lived here you'd get a better sense for how these things transpire."
Out of sight Out of Mind saff. Many outside the North only believe what RTE, The BBC and Indo tell them. They haven't a scooby doo.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9785 - 17/09/2024 14:17:06    2570390

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Point proven. I rest my case."
You haven't proven a single point yet. That's why you want to 'rest your case'.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 14:34:38    2570395

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Think people are in agreement over a few things here. Antrim needs an inter county standard ground. Should the GAA and both governments carry on and deliver a 15,000 - 20,000 venue as in Omagh, Newry, Ballybofey etc
A city the size of Belfast should have a 40,000 + stadium for major events. Does ownership matter that much if it's available to all communities ? Going forward I think developers will look towards a multi purpose stadium, not just a venue for the Ulster final.
The mid Ulster option makes sense for an Ulster final day only , there are many commercial benefits in being located close to a big city allowing them to host a much wider range of events. It might be wasteful to duplicate a resource already available a little South of it in Clones.
For all its limitations ( accessibility, small town, poor toilets, too far South to be central of province) Clones has served us well over many decades. One advantage it has over Casement is that it's built and open for business. It has a good playing surface , friendly atmosphere with a stadium in need of an upgrade and some TLC. Some folk love it , I know people from different counties who look forward to the annual pilgrimage to Clones and them having no dog in the race.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 577 - 17/09/2024 14:36:46    2570397

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Now you have definitely shown your ignorance of the situation and proof of your own narrow minded agenda."
If that's the only templated response that you can muster up to that then, enough said really. But if you have an actual response then I'm all ears.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 14:38:20    2570398

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Out of sight Out of Mind saff. Many outside the North only believe what RTE, The BBC and Indo tell them. They haven't a scooby doo."
It does get very tiresome having to repeat the same message to the same posters who clearly don't want to listen and just spout the same lies every time this topic is brought up.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 14:39:54    2570399

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Replying To Square_B:  "An alternative site might be best but there's no way it should be built anywhere else but Belfast. Belfast badly needs a multipurpose stadium to cater for all sports and events. Nearly a third of the NI population live within the Belfast metropolitan area and that's where it should be. An upgrade of Clones should happen also."
My friend we are not dealing with the population of the Nirth of Ireland. We are talking about Ulster, and in that context only a ver small percentage of the GAA population live in Belfast.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 386 - 17/09/2024 15:21:17    2570407

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "It's was closed because it was set to be rebuilt. Then came the hold ups, via guess who? That's right, the 3 major unionist parties in the north with DUP and their hatred of all things Irish, leading the charge. Perhaps if you lived here you'd get a better sense for how these things transpire."
The GAA needlessly closed the place themselves.
The day to close it was the day before the machinery moved in to begin works, no matter how many years it took to get to that point.

By the way 1 major plus for Clones is that 20% of the gate money doesn't go as VAT to the Brit Exchequer.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1950 - 17/09/2024 15:25:35    2570408

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "It's was closed because it was set to be rebuilt. Then came the hold ups, via guess who? That's right, the 3 major unionist parties in the north with DUP and their hatred of all things Irish, leading the charge. Perhaps if you lived here you'd get a better sense for how these things transpire."
You are not near wise. The stadium was shut down before planning permission was even applied for. And your Barney about the local residents being in a minority is just that. You can put forward all the nonsensical arguments that you want but the area is not suitable for a 30,000+ capacity stadium, and no other stadiums are needed in Ulster of that capacity. Filled for the final of the Ulster Championship, a completion that may not exist in a few years. Scale back your ridiculous plans and get a Stadium that is suitable for Antrim GAA and possible neutral ground round robin games involving Down,Derry,,Armagh,Tyrone. 15 to 20k more than adequate. Let the soccer people build their own white elephant if they want to.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 386 - 17/09/2024 15:34:40    2570409

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "You are not near wise. The stadium was shut down before planning permission was even applied for. And your Barney about the local residents being in a minority is just that. You can put forward all the nonsensical arguments that you want but the area is not suitable for a 30,000+ capacity stadium, and no other stadiums are needed in Ulster of that capacity. Filled for the final of the Ulster Championship, a completion that may not exist in a few years. Scale back your ridiculous plans and get a Stadium that is suitable for Antrim GAA and possible neutral ground round robin games involving Down,Derry,,Armagh,Tyrone. 15 to 20k more than adequate. Let the soccer people build their own white elephant if they want to."
Considering I know a lot of the residents around the Casement area. Played with and against a lot of them on field, shared the company of many others and I know exactly the local vibe a lot more than you and your fake media, Im in a far better position to speak for the locals than you will ever be. Everyone in the area was buzzing for the new stadium apart from a few hand out merchants who the unionist's quickly 'defended' due to a common anti GAA goal in mind. If you have any stats to counter this, let's hear them.

Saying that the area couldn't manage a 30,000 plus capacity when those numbers of people travel through the area on a daily basis further highlights your clueless take on the area. It's day and daily routine in Belfast to have thousands travelling through it, just like Dublin. That's what the multiple roads exist for. It's not rocket science. This stadium was meant to be for all of Ulster in the most accessible area of the north. If you think this is meant to be Clones......I give up.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 17:43:35    2570437

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "The GAA needlessly closed the place themselves.
The day to close it was the day before the machinery moved in to begin works, no matter how many years it took to get to that point.

By the way 1 major plus for Clones is that 20% of the gate money doesn't go as VAT to the Brit Exchequer."
Hindsight is wonderful and all but it doesn't take away from the political promise that was put in place and the proof that the other two stadiums were already being built as the doors to Casement were closing. What has happened since then has been a sectarian disgrace. Just a shame so many 'GAA folk' are in sync with these under hand tactics while they also smugly talk about paying British tax like anyone up here has much choice.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 17/09/2024 17:48:42    2570438

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