From todays news:

Casement Park could be transformed into the GAA's first all-seater stadium if ambitious plans to redevelop the Belfast venue are given the green light.

Northern Ireland Sports Minister Nelson McCausland is expected to provide a paper to the Stormont Executive recommending the multi-million euro redevelopment of Casement Park along with Belfast's other main sporting grounds, Windsor Park and Ravenhill, in the coming days.

The GAA, IFA and IRFU will all make a financial contribution to their respective projects. Under the proposed plan, Casement Park would be razed to the ground and developed into a 40,000 all-seater stadium which could become the future home for the Ulster football final.



Now I have no idea where the money will be found but if this goes ahead, the Ulster final could return to its natural home.

Good news if you live in say Monaghan Town or Scotstown as you could be home in less than half the time it takes to get from Clones.

I know the hardened drinkers will suffer but surely the game comes before that?

Great news indeed.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/10/2010 11:46:22    791050

Can you explain satire to me again as i keep mixing it up with rambling jibberish.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 06/10/2010 11:55:13    791062

I hope they ban all spectators with musical instruments from the new stadium...

orange and blue (Tyrone) - Posts: 1080 - 06/10/2010 12:08:56    791074

Good news for West Belfast but I have always honestly preferred going to Clones for the atmosphere. I'd say that 6 of the 9 counties in Ulster would prefer Clones also; Antrim, Derry and Down being the exceptions.

Casement Park and its surrounds can also be an absolute nightmare as regards traffic too Patrique. I've saw numerous crazy queues of traffic at the end of the M1 on match days, lucky I know other roads into 'Andy-town'.

Goodfella, Tir (None) - Posts: 1652 - 06/10/2010 12:10:16    791076

patrique, clones is the natural home of ulster final day and most of the counties would agree, casement is a nightmare to get out of at first round match never mine uslter final

binman53 (Monaghan) - Posts: 104 - 06/10/2010 12:14:15    791081

Casement has more scope for development and a better transport and road network, sounds like a good plan to me.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3747 - 06/10/2010 12:15:17    791082

PATRIQUE......How many finals did Antrim contest in Clones this past 50 years

richiej (UK) - Posts: 1430 - 06/10/2010 12:29:48    791098

06/10/2010 11:55:13
Breffni39
County: Cavan
Posts: 3696

791062
Can you explain satire to me again as i keep mixing it up with rambling jibberish.



United will stay up. Relax, you are rapidly losing it.

Now, take a deep breath, and post again.

Something that contributes.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/10/2010 12:35:28    791101

I don't think thats satire either, i think its juvenile wumming with an unknowning irony with the "something that contributes" remark.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 06/10/2010 12:48:03    791107

Exciting prospect
All you need now is for the Tories to agree to abolish the VAT on gate receipts in the six counties and it will become a plausible venue
Although given that the Tories are currently taking a knife to the public sector, Getting rid of Childrens allowance and also looking to Co-ed (by religion) all the schools in the North - and closing half of them in the process - I'm not sure giving the GAA a let off on its tax bill is their number one priorty.

Omar.d (Cavan) - Posts: 1141 - 06/10/2010 13:10:28    791133

A very Sad Day, Clones has welcomed fans from over the border for many a year,the atmosphere in and around the town has always been carnival like, unlike casement where supporters feel very uneasy and worried when they return to were they parked there car if its going to be still there, Clones is the home of Ulster Football , I know the N.I. executive won't fund a stadium over the border but it's still sad that in a few years time that the Ulster Football final will have lost its Colour .

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 06/10/2010 13:18:26    791143

Sounds very fishy to me, I mean what lengths will Antrim not go to ,to get Tyrone and Armagh removed from there home for the last Glorious ten years ?

DynamoDooher (Tyrone) - Posts: 423 - 06/10/2010 13:38:06    791158

Don't worry lads the break-away 3 Ulster counties will still compete in Clones !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 06/10/2010 14:12:18    791179

Fortyfive; up until 1970 Casement was the regular home for Ulster Final (football) and still is the main venue for Hurling Final; as for the "car" issue; the same could be said for Dublin in the 70's and 80's; I'm sure with the redevelopment of Casement, there will be considerable redevelopment and investment in the surrounding infrastructure; unlike Clones; that is unless they build a complete bypass around Monaghan Town

KevHill (Antrim) - Posts: 271 - 06/10/2010 15:03:39    791220

KevHill Belfast is a wonderful city but like most cities it has its good side and it has its bad side, and West Belfast will not lose its reputation as Joy ride capitol of the North I know I seen it happening in front of my own eyes were a Tyrone woman had her car taken right outside Casement park, its not only the Parking issue that makes going to Casement unappealing its that there's now atmosphere! most Hoganist's on here especially from the Ulster counties would agree that Clones has a Charm about it ,it has a unique and special place for followers of Ulster Football . Casement will no doubt be the new home for the Ulster final's once Nelson pulls his finger out ,but I look forward to travelling down to clones next year and if that means I have to sit in a traffic Jam outside Monaghan town well thats fine.

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 06/10/2010 15:58:13    791269

Fortyfive: Both Patrique and myself will look forward to seeing you there to reverse last year's result

KevHill (Antrim) - Posts: 271 - 06/10/2010 16:18:58    791290

I can be in casement in half an hour but much prefer Clones. Approx 2 hours. Fantastic atmosphere. I have introduced friends and family to gaelic football at Clones and they were hooked

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 06/10/2010 16:24:04    791293

06/10/2010 12:29:48
richiej
County: UK
Posts: 583

791098
PATRIQUE......How many finals did Antrim contest in Clones this past 50 years



Is the all Ireland final played in Tralee?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/10/2010 16:34:59    791306

your alright KevHill I much prefer the tunes on my i Phone to those of an Old Bodhran banging in my ear.

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 06/10/2010 16:50:33    791321

Castlebar is already the first GAA All-Seater stadium.

gipo (Sligo) - Posts: 39 - 06/10/2010 17:30:55    791350