Purse strings loosened for Casement Park rejig

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The Government is to make a financial contribution of £50m towards the redevelopment of the Casement Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

‘BBC’ stated that the above move comes as part of the Chancellor’s Spending Review which allocates money to day-to-day public services for the next three years.

The Casement Park is the principal Gaelic games stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK). It is located in Andersonstown Road in the West of the City and is named after the Irish revolutionary Roger Casement. The stadium, which has been closed since June 2013, previously had a capacity of approximately 31,500.

Rebuilding the West Belfast stadium is estimated to cost about £260m of which £120m is jointly in place from the Stormont Executive, the Irish Government and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

Dublin (Ireland)-based the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organization focused primarily on promoting the indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, Gaelic handball, and the GAA rounders.

‘BBC’ further stated that the Government’s decision will be welcomed by the GAA and some political parties but it still leaves a shortfall of about £90m.
 

How does Spending Review Impact Casement Park?

The Spending Review directly affects what the Stormont (Belfast, Northern Ireland) Ministers have to spend on public services in Northern Ireland.

Recently, Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister John O’Dowd welcomed the Government’s contribution to the project and urged all involved to “now work together” in getting the stadium built.

The Casement Park, with a proposed 34,500 capacity, had been earmarked to host football games at the EURO 2028 football tournament but, with the project on hold, the plan was shelved.

Stormont’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has said the GAA will need to make its plans for the stadium more affordable if the Government fails to cover the gap for the current proposed rebuild – “What we do need to make sure is that any additional public funding that comes forward for sport is done on a fair and equitable basis.”
 

‘Over to the GAA’

The First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the Government funding and said it should act as a “springboard” to give momentum to ensure the stadium is developed.

She said it was a good news story and all the partners should now work together because the “Casement Park will be built”.

The GAA also welcomed the funding but its President Jarlath Burns said it was “not the final piece of jigsaw”.

Burns said the cost of Casement is “really well over £270millon”.
 

Analysis: Big Gaps Remain

Another piece of the complex Casement jigsaw has fallen into place but big gaps remain to be filled.

Campaigners for the stadium argue the £62.5m pledged by the Executive needs to be increased to reflect the rise in inflation and construction costs which some have suggested could amount to an extra £20m.

The GAA will also come under pressure. It has indicated that it will provide more than the £15m already promised but will it consider altering the design of the stadium to reduce costs?

There is also the looming deadline as the planning permission for the stadium expires next Summer.
 

IFA Call for ‘Parity’

The Irish Football Association (IFA – the governing body for association football in Northern Ireland) has called for at least £50m to be given to the sport in line with the money pledged for the Casement Park redevelopment.

The Chief Executive of IFA Patrick Nelson welcomed the news but said parity for sports is needed.

Nelson said football in Northern Ireland required £200m of capital investment in the facilities.

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