I would disagree with the opinion that casement has no atmosphere. Its the crowd that makes atmosphere not a stadium. When Down were beaten by Antrim back at the start of this millenium there was an amazing atmosphere with a packed out stadium. For their two games with derry that same year at caesment the atmosphere was electric and they were another couple of capacity crowd games. Even when down played there for championship games there was great atmosphere. Belfast is a changing city continuously being modernized and a massive sports stadium is just what is required. I would applaud the Ulster council for this move as they have constantly overlooked belfast for major development. Antrim fans would however need to come out and fill the stadium for their matches to justify it. Hopefully they will because they are as ardent gaels as any country men.

Streeeeking (Down) - Posts: 41 - 06/04/2009 10:28:30    249147

RIGHT FOLKS HERE IT IS, casement park is a fine ground but with one problem its in ANTRIM.Now no harm to antrim gaa people but how many attend league and championship hurling and football matches,would i be far of the mark by saying 500+ people at a league match hurling or football now there would be some buzz in a forty thousand stadium with that crowd!!When was the last time antrim played in a ulster football final think it was the 1950"s we may forget about hurling in ulster its in bad shape no fault to you"s for trying,but the truth is THERES NO NEED FOR A NEW STADIUM.100million for an ulster final one game a year madness,ulster has plenty of grounds that are left out BREFFNI PARK CAVAN holds 30000people last ulster semi final was there in 1994 how much money was spent doing it up for what one maybe two big games a year.Ive been at plenty of ulster finals and any amount of tickets on sale before hand down fermanagh street.SO ULSTER COUNCIL PUT THE MONEY IN TO COACHING OUR GAMES TO THE YOUTH OF THE PROVINCE SO IN TWENTY YEARS TIME ULSTER WILL STILL BE STRONG!! p.s no point havein a staduim with no teams to put in it.

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 06/04/2009 19:54:54    250040

Correct me if I am wrong but did Clones only become the GAA premier ground after 1969 when the British Army set up camp in Casement. The GAA then made it a policy to take all major games to Clones. For me the First City in the province should have the premier Venue.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 06/04/2009 20:19:35    250081

Excellent post Streeking, those games in 2000 illustrated the potential in Antrim. My own daughter insisted in going to the Derry replay, and buying an Antrim jersey (she had a Mayo one) and indeed large numbers from Antrim Town attended the replay. In Andersonstown for months the area was populated by kids in Antrim jersies. The potential is great.


And a few relevant points Hardcore, but a bit of the mark with some. The Ulster final was first played in Casement ion 1953, and in the 1960s quite a few were at Casement. However with Antrim reaching the final in 1970, it went back to Clones. 1971 it was back to Casement for arguably the best ever final, before the Army occupied the ground and it has not had a final since. It was also left to decay until recently.

Antrim V Kilkenny had about 3,500, Wexford game about 2,500, and a disappointing crowd of about 1,000 at the Westmeath game. Alas the "official" attendance is always given as a lower figure due to VAT.

And at the moment Antrim do npot command a great following, but what losing team does? However Antrim people would attend an Ulster final, large numbers already do in Clones, and Casement would increase that number.

If the final was established, well the "extra's" in the form of cafes, restaurants, bars and the rest would soon follow.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/04/2009 20:46:00    250116

sure the tyrone an armagh fans will want to go to croker anyway funny how when the two teams finally win an all ireland there fans all come out!!

dj27legend (Down) - Posts: 641 - 06/04/2009 22:28:02    250221

Well said Streeeking. Casement & Belfast just need the chance and opportunity to show that the city deserves a premier GAA stadium and relevant fixtures. The Gaelic Games community here is as strong as any other part of Ulster & Ireland and that seems to be forgotten sometimes. I would also say that some of the rural Ulster people are guilty of the same bias and prejudice against Belfast as some Southern Gaels have been against Tyrone & Armagh so people in glass houses. I would agree that the £100 million stadium is nonsense and pie in the sky as there would NOT be enough games to justify this expense but Casement has to be redeveloped and Ulster semi finals and finals staged there again. However it's a 2 way thing, we in Belfast also have to play our part BUT if it comes off you won't find us wanting. The Belfast GAA people will work to ensure that it becomes a success. Yes we have work to do as well.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 07/04/2009 00:17:55    250341

a new stadium alone wont help antrim it needs the same work put in as in dublin but it well help.Dont see the problem with having to big capacity grounds,just use the one that suits the teams and supporters,would be even better if every county had 40000 allseaters.

johnthebanker (Down) - Posts: 29 - 07/04/2009 08:47:23    250420

well said hardcore. Antrim and especially Belfast are GAA wastelands and there is no point throwing money at them when they clearly have no interest in our games. Walk into any GAA club in west Belfast on a Sunday and all you will see is british soccer and horse racing, you'd be taking your life in your hands to even mention turning it over to TG4. The only reason some of them wear antrim jerseys is because O'Neills sell them cheap out of the basket and they go well with their tracksuit bottoms when they head to the Red Devil or Celtic bar were people such as george best and somebody called jim johnstone are commemorated. Pump the money into coaching staff for schools in the 8 counties.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 07/04/2009 08:53:59    250424

Tom If that's a wind up it hasn't worked. If you really believe that about the GAA in Belfast you are so deluded my friend, so deluded. Gaelic Games in the city are thriving at the minute and the youngsters playing both codes as healthy as any time in our history. Just yesterday I seen dozens of kids training in North Belfast for Pearses while there are countless matches every weekend right across the city. Colleges football in Belfast is also on the up with our schools once again challenging at the top level. Belfast in particular has a healthy hurling community unlike other Ulster counties who pay lip service to hurling and who can't be bothered. It must be them big dangerous sticks they don't like. Your views are stereotypical nonsense from country folk especially the Armagh & Tyrone students who are afraid of Belfast except the Holyland area where it's easy to bully and terrorise pensioners and young families. You have the cheek to think that Belfast people have no part to play in the GAA and want your wee boozy day out down the road in Clones. The bars & clubs on the Falls Road are not indicative of the GAA in Belfast, in any city you will get different sports like soccer which is also very strong. My experience of these places is that an important GAA game is usually shown on one TV with soccer or racing on another. Why not, bars & clubs are businesses who have to cut their cloth and many rural GAA clubs depend on their bars and alcohol sponsors for their survival so don't get all high and mighty. Go out and learn a bit before you spout your ignorant nonsense!

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 07/04/2009 13:36:58    250763

The reality is GAA clubs in Belfast are nothing more than drinking dens for the unemployed, the unemployable and the don't want to be employeds. I have first hand experience of Belfast as I own several houses in it and therefore visit regularly.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 07/04/2009 15:35:21    250943

I'm not the only one to comment on this but The Northern Ireland Assembly are going to put funds towards this so why on earth would they pay for a stadium in the "free State" to be gutted and rebuilt.

Tom I'm sure there are GAA clubs in Armagh that shows soccer matches over hurling matchs would you complain then. Also I know a lot of people who drink or have drunk in belfast gaa clubs who are well paid professionals working in banks and for the goverment.

oisinboy (Antrim) - Posts: 335 - 07/04/2009 16:29:33    251044

could be irish soccer tom and whats wrong with watching the racing?? possibly belfast might not get tg4 or aintrim people might not wana watch any1 other than themselves thats a possibility!! gaa round belfast is thrieving at the moment an hurley!! cross and passion all ireland b hurling champs, aquinis beat in the c final of football, st marys in the mccrory if im right. 1st time ive seen a belfast team in it for long while! st galls always there abouts in the ulster championship?? what have armagh done lately??

dj27legend (Down) - Posts: 641 - 07/04/2009 18:39:38    251202

Tom

I didn't know whether to laugh at your reply or laugh even louder. Oh the irony of it, Casement & Belfast should be bypassed for a major GAA ground BUT it's OK to make a few quid out of owning their houses. Typical of country people who are only interested in the jobs and money in the city and then go back to their white washed bungalows in an acre of land with 4 x 4's in the garage. No wonder the Holyland is in such a mess.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 07/04/2009 19:22:27    251239

PATRIQUE,does two big games in NINE YEARS merit the buliding of a £100million pound stadium i dont think so, its a crazy idea and thats not me been anti-antrim or anything ive been to casement park loads of times and had no problem with it (even if we only won once there in my time)its grand when your county has a run in the championship,people go to games that would not have been at a match in 20years ive seen this in monaghan its the same everywhere with soccer,rugby,hurling and football.if your going to bulid a staduim on POTENTIAL then it would be bulit in TYRONE,minor, u21, senior all irelands and more to come and a fan base to go with it.AS I ILLUSTRATED BEFORE IM AM NOT ANTI-ANTRIM IM TELLING IT LIKE I SEE IT!!

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 07/04/2009 19:41:30    251252

Tom1916
County: Armagh
Posts: 389

250424
well said hardcore. Antrim and especially Belfast are GAA wastelands and there is no point throwing money at them when they clearly have no interest in our games. Walk into any GAA club in west Belfast on a Sunday and all you will see is british soccer and horse racing, you'd be taking your life in your hands to even mention turning it over to TG4. The only reason some of them wear antrim jerseys is because O'Neills sell them cheap out of the basket and they go well with their tracksuit bottoms when they head to the Red Devil or Celtic bar were people such as george best and somebody called jim johnstone are commemorated. Pump the money into coaching staff for schools in the 8 counties.



No this is not a wind up.

This is from someone upset at the CURRENT state of play.

Belfast Clubs: Two all Ireland Champions, Rossa and St Gall's. (three is you count St John's U14 feile team)


Crossmaglen: No all Ireland champions.

But don't worry, we will send a few missionaries down from Andytown to coach your youngsters.

we are so giving in Antrim as well.

PS: Track suit bottoms are so yesterday. It is pyjama bottoms now. Get with it man.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 07/04/2009 22:20:08    251425

We are saved. Mark Durcan wants to build a new Stadium for GAA in Sandy Row. Yeowwww.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 08/04/2009 00:49:39    251596

dj27legend there is no problem with showing horse racing or soccer in GAA clubs but there is a problem with showing it instead of GAA games. GAA clubs are there to promote GAA games and not horse racing or soccer. I can guarantee that you wouldn't walk into a soccer club when a british premiership match is on and they are watching a GAA match instead of it or the soccer is on a small screen at the back with no one watching it! I went to a bar opposite milltown graveyard to watch the club finals on St Patrick's Day the last time St Galls played, I asked could one of the tv's be turned over and they said no that the horse racing was on and then celtic and rangers!!! Why should GAA people give the likes of these businesses a cent of our money.
By the way there was a riot a few years ago in Iris were I have a house after Man Utd beat Liverpool or vice versa. My tenants told me that gangs of people shouting united and liverpool were throwing bottles and fighting each other up and down the streets!!!! Not a student in sight!

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 08/04/2009 09:39:16    251652

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 2808

242223 As Belfast is the home of GAA in Ulster, I mean no other county comes within range of Antrim in Ulster titles won, and no county has won as many senior all Ireland titles, it would be fitting that the home of Ulster GAA was in Belfast.


-------------

change the record would ye.

joan_balantine (UK) - Posts: 824 - 08/04/2009 11:06:02    251747

This thread is starting to miss the point and people are beginning to get very anti-antrim and extremely anti-belfast. Its some cheek to say that everyone drinking in belfast clubs is unemployed, unemployable and not wanting work. There is a great need for redevelopement in casement and it could well kick start a wave of increasing attendances to antrim games. People will want to see the new facilities and with antrim football getting stronger with a probable promotion to division three and the chance of maybe a Leinster hurling championship match against the great Kilkenny in the future there is great potential in Antrim. Casement has great road access and with the amount of Tyrone and Armagh people emigrating to the city to find work that isn't available in the sticks they would be delighted to see their county play in Belfast as opposed to the long trek to clones. It suits everyone in the six counties best. Not that Im trying to divide Ulster the same way as unionists, Im being realistic. Its the six county government that will fund the project so it is only right from a business point of view to put it in the largest city in their jurisdiction. People from the other 3 counties, regrettably, don't have a say in the matter. Belfast GAA is strong with more clubs on the falls road than any other concentrated area in Ulster. Do we as fellow GAA members forget about them? Should we oppose them to have a world class stadium? It isnt just for them its for all of ulster and that is what is important we should not let it divide us. I would also imagine it would get good usage with Ulster semi finals and the final there as well as Antrim games and possibly an All-Ireland quarter final or two instead of double headers at croke for counties that wouldn't fill it up enough.

Streeeeking (Down) - Posts: 41 - 08/04/2009 11:34:53    251776

If it can't go to Clones or Croker spend the money on coaching.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 08/04/2009 11:57:12    251810