I know Patrique you have to laugh at some of the anti-Casement posters. You would think West Belfast was in Helmand province in Afghanistan listening to the nonsense. I can't recall any GAA fan being assaulted, threatened or attacked at Casement. Now you could apply the same criteria to Croke Park where a Northern registration is more likely to get you clamped. The area around Croke Park isn't exactly suburbia, it is working class Dublin but the residents there are mostly welcoming and friendly. As I said the GAA community in Belfast has it's faults and must do a lot more to make Ulster finals and semi finals more of an occasion with music and entertainment provided. Organisation, stewarding, parking and access to the ground all have to be improved and the clubs and pubs in Andersonstown must do far more as well.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 29/03/2009 16:35:01    242559

I have no problem with Casement its the wee Hoods that hang around waiting on any chance they can get to rob your car! Fact!

williewentwell (Tyrone) - Posts: 1712 - 29/03/2009 16:58:12    242576

Folks I wouldnt agree that Casement is entriely a trouble free venue, while i would agree that although West Belfast has a dubious reputation but I dont think that GAA supporters are in any danger in and around west Belfast but it is the travel to and from the game that I am worried about.

We all know that GAA supporters travel with their colours displayed

So:
What about the Derry supporters travelling through south Anrim and North Beflast?
What aout all the other counties that will have to run the gaunlet up the M1?
What about GAA supporters coming from other parts of Belfast?
All this being done at the height of the marching season, I think that there is potentially a very serious security risk at stake here.

However I think with that said having the GAAs premier grounds in West Belfast would be worth it if we could raise the profile there.

So antrim folks:
Don't pretend that the GAA is the strongest sport in West Belfast becasue it is not.
Don't act with arrogance that Belfast should recieve the premier venue becasue it is in an area that deserves it.
The Venue should be in Belfast to promote the GAA in that city and that is the overiding reason.
Accpet the GAAs investment on these terms and not any dillusions that you have about Belfast

omaghjoe (Tyrone) - Posts: 1191 - 29/03/2009 17:00:14    242578

Patrique, that probably explains why he was still wearing his black tights against Tyrone in the u21 match, obvious evidence of a night spent on the tiles. They would have been better served trying to inflict damage to the Tyrone defence as opposed to joining in street parties in the holyland

mugsys_barber (Tyrone) - Posts: 2160 - 29/03/2009 17:02:48    242581

There seems to be a bit of hypocrisy going on here with some of our country cousins. They seem to have a fear problem with Casement & West Belfast but NOT South Belfast especially the rural students in the Holyland who flaunt & disgrace the GAA tops they wear while annoying decent people. I detect a bit of cowardly custard going on here. They are frightened of the big bad West Belfast people but NOT the pensioners and families off University Avenue. That's how bullies operate.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 29/03/2009 17:09:29    242591

Ulsterman,I myself stayed in the holylands some years ago,those students that carried on like Idiots on paddys day, most were wearing Irish rugby tops not fair to tarnish all Gaels with those whose actions of drunkenness and vandalism! P.S I was no saint I enjoyed myself with out disgracing my Collage.

williewentwell (Tyrone) - Posts: 1712 - 29/03/2009 17:19:16    242604

I know Willie there are many decent students but I am just exposing some of the hypocrisy & double standards about West Belfast & Casement. The fear issue is just an excuse from some country people who have an in built antipathy to Belfast and the GAA scene there. I know as I have worked with rural folk who hate everything about Belfast except the jobs and shops. "Frankies" is the word they call us. It cuts both ways of course, city people have their own arrogance and prejudices too.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 29/03/2009 17:42:40    242619

i thought there was talk of the gaa redeveloping clones as well. it wouldn't take much to make it 40,000. knock down the gerry arthur stand and build a bigger one. there's plenty of room on that side.

they could always play the ulster final in clones or casement depending on who is in the final. similar to what happens in munster or connaught.

Alvin (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 29/03/2009 17:43:30    242620

Obviously I much prefer Clones and believe it is the better stadium and venue for Ulster's main GAA ground. But it seems now Casement will take that over, a great shame for me. Of course Clones is never going to get the same funding as Casement will, so it can't compete in this regard. But I will always reagrd it as the home of Ulster football, many great memories there(alot bad too though!).

mid-mon man (Monaghan) - Posts: 1680 - 29/03/2009 17:48:30    242623

Omaghjoe, I know you offered support for Casement, but some of your comments are a bit antiquated.

I admit the thousands of Celtic supporters in North Belfast MIGHT attack GAA fans, but I doubt it.

As for the gauntlet of the M1? What gauntlet? I have travelled on the M1 to Clones for years, and I doubt if I am braver than the average GAA fan. During the serious Drumcree years we travelled to Clones via the M1 and Portadown, in July, without suffering abuse.

The Ulster hurling final is often played at Casement on the 12th July, when Ards peninsular Down fans have to travel right through East Belfast to attend, and I have not heard about any incidents. East Belfast could be described as "enemy" territory. West Belfast is GAA land, and North and South Belfast are now mainly populated by people with leanings towards Rome in religious matters.

And FINALLY, Ulsterman, a GREAT post about the Holy Land and soft targets.

I never knew you had it in you, fair play.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 29/03/2009 19:33:42    242712

The holylands issue is irrlevant to this but if you want to try and pull the GAA into the gutter just like your fellow Belfast man Alaiter McDonnell did you go ahead I think it is displys the typical atitude of Belfast people to the GAA.

Patrique in fairness there is no point calling me antiquaited now after your sneering and arrogant comments earlier however dispite your insults I will take you up on your points
The Ulster hurling final does not attract a large number of supporters and is not very hihg profile so I am sure that those living on the Netwonards road wouldnt even be aware that it was on unlike an football final. Also I doubt that the hurling supporters would barely leave Portaferry without covering up their colours for fear of a bottle against the window. As for going up the Newtonards road with your red and black flag out the window of you car come on you wouldnt get down it and thats that.
When I lived in the holylands I went over to Casement a few times I made sure thought on the way there my colours were covered. Dont try and tell m that you could walk down the Donegal road with a GAA jersey you would get what you deserve for being so stupid! And just becasue Nationlist are in a majority in South and North Belfast (which I am not sure that they are) doesnt mean there isnt seriously unfriendly areas there!

However with all that said I think that most GAA people would be willing to pull in their wings slighly when going through these dodgy areas for the greater good of promotion of the GAA in Belfast. If it all means that some day the GAA stronghold will be the Village and Cregagh estate it will all be worth it, but people in West Belfast will have to start it by crossing the peace wall and bring a GAA club to the Shankill road!

omaghjoe (Tyrone) - Posts: 1191 - 29/03/2009 21:46:33    242818

If the Ulster Council were prepared to invest in Maze (along with the other bodies and Stormont), whats to stop them looking at other greenfield sites ? This would of course be dependant on the costs associated with raising Clones, Casement etc to required 40-50k standard, however may be cheaper option. Agree with Patrique that GAA not promoted properly in Belfast, however partly "culchie" sport syndrom prevalent in Dublin yuppie culture (maybe recession will restore community). However stadium needs to be accessible to the masses, majority of whom do not need off-licences and pubs to create the atmosphere associated with Clones (and this includes my own counties "supporters") on big match days. The Maze site was ideal for excellent transport links (motorway and railway), with abundance of space for parking and reasonably central to the province, although Donegal supporters may not agree. A similar site, finance allowing, would be ideal, preferably to the west of Belfast to promote GAA in the masses of Antrim (which brings us back to Casement). I feel the Down Board missed a great opportunity a few years ago to purchase a tract of land near Castlewellan, thereby opening the game to the whole county (incl S.Belfast), rather than persist with Pairc Esler at tip of South Down, with little parking, no public transport, no possibility to extend stand etc. I hope Ulster Council not similarly blinkered.

Burnsey (Down) - Posts: 561 - 29/03/2009 22:11:55    242841

Bit bored with the debate around Clones. Means more to have the team going well.

Belfast is a great spot but doesn't cut it when it comes to hosting gaelic games. While the people are sound, Andersonstown is a bit of soul-less kip in terms of atmosphere for a big match. Casement as the premier Ulster venue is going to promote the game in Belfast/Antrim one bit.

If the Norn Iron government are prepared to throw a millions towards upgrading Casement it should be accepted.

The truth is that it would take far less to upgrade Clones to a +40,000 capacity.

MiseMuineachain (Monaghan) - Posts: 212 - 29/03/2009 22:23:05    242855

Mise

I don't think anyone wants to exclude Clones but Casement should be upgraded as soon as possible. Antrim, Down and many Tyrone people have no real problem with Casement but I can see why the Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and Fermanagh folk have reservations. Clones AND Casement should share semi finals and finals because it is imperative that Belfast has a top GAA ground.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 29/03/2009 22:32:51    242871

Regardless of whatever opinion people have of Casement - until at least the late 1980s, the Ulster Council used to promote Clones and Casement as the two official provincial venues (as opposed to county venues - Antrim's being Corrigan Park). If Gregory Campbell puts up money (and assuming the First Minister, Peter Robinson, isn't going to retrospectively claim his previous antics in Monaghan amounted to the annexation of the county) - the only ground that will be entertained is Casement.
There is a real irony in many of the critiques given of the GAA in Belfast - huge numbers of first and second generation fans of many Ulster counties live in the city and travel home or down to Clones etc for county matches, but could barely tell you anything about their local GAA club in Belfast.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 29/03/2009 22:45:43    242887

Patrique Soccer fans caused havoc yestarday in belfast whats to say they do not clash with gaa fans so a no for me.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 29/03/2009 22:53:32    242895

i dont know why there is a safety concern here. west belfast is no more dangerous than dublin. its irish/catholic territory so for fears of being attacked, that point is gone. majority fellow irishmen in the west so it aint dangerous. now if they decided to go and build a GAA stadium in east belfast you might have safety fears but shouldnt have many as i would assume (sarcasm) the 20000 fans of each team would be able to cope with the easts sectarianism and outnumber them. but anyway the ulster final should continue to be held in monaghan

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4124 - 29/03/2009 23:44:05    242922

dellboypollcat in fairmess to the unionists they didnt start the fight at the soccer match and didnt finish it either may i add. that was mainly the polish. if that happened to any home team anywhere and an away team starts the fight obviously there is going to be some sort of response

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4124 - 30/03/2009 00:01:38    242931

Dell

Remember the Love Ulster riots in Dublin in February 2006? Will that put you off attending Croker if Tyrone get to another All Ireland semi final or final?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 30/03/2009 00:05:52    242934

32_4_1
County: Meath
Posts: 111

242931

dellboypollcat in fairmess to the unionists they didnt start the fight at the soccer match and didnt finish it either may i add. that was mainly the polish. if that happened to any home team anywhere and an away team starts the fight obviously there is going to be some sort of response


Did they not play the irish in croke park this year and no fights and fans mixed with each other.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 30/03/2009 00:06:31    242935