Casement Park in line for major overhaul - 40,000 all seater Stadium.

[armaghniac]

Why then has Clones barely got even a lick of paint in the meantime?

-> To make everyone in Ulster GAA believe we need Casement*. Or I suppose, keep quiet the question of "why do we need Casement?"
-> To put pressure onto decision makers (don't quite know if that will work given tribals here)
-> To not divert money away from the big white elephant.


*Even though everyone has survived quite happily without it as a major county ground for 20 years.

Clones was built because there is vat on tickets in the 6c and not the south. Has that suddenly changed?

Clones was built because it was an importangt rail junction and the RUC couldn't harrass you there.

[five points]

Clones was built because there is vat on tickets in the 6c and not the south. Has that suddenly changed?

Clones was built because it was an importangt rail junction and the RUC couldn't harrass you there.

There was neither VAT nor an RUC when Clones hosted its first Ulster final in 1905

[Milltown Row2]

Why then has Clones barely got even a lick of paint in the meantime?

-> To make everyone in Ulster GAA believe we need Casement*. Or I suppose, keep quiet the question of "why do we need Casement?"
-> To put pressure onto decision makers (don't quite know if that will work given tribals here)
-> To not divert money away from the big white elephant.


*Even though everyone has survived quite happily without it as a major county ground for 20 years.

Clones was built because there is vat on tickets in the 6c and not the south. Has that suddenly changed?

Clones was built because it was an importangt rail junction and the RUC couldn't harrass you there.

They just harassed you on the way to Clones

[6th sam]

So everything goes tits up for the Irish language act? We have no assembly because of the Irish language act, education, nhs, funding, social welfare and everything else a local government wants to provide can't be done because of the Irish language act?

Get a majority and push it through, until then work the system.

Substitute 'denial of equality' for 'Irish Language Act' and your post will make more sense.

Now who in n.i is actually being denied equality?

People who wish to conduct  business with their government in a language spoken here for 2 millenia.

Are you serious? Or being pedantic? While I love Irish culture and GAA speaking Irish or any other language in government isn't cutting the mustard with basic health and well-being issues, education and reform, housing and infrastructure and better solutions to helping the environment are much more crucial.

If you'd rather be able to speak Irish in government (which you can if you want to and be fluent in Irish) than sorting out real issues then knock yourself out. In the real world let's just call a spade a spade.

A state of the Art compact stadium to host Ulster finals etc is overdue, whether Casement is the place for this remains to be seen.

Would totally agree re Irish language act and real world . Health, jobs, economy , education is what directly effects all of us, and by neglecting these things many people are suffering . SF are potentially playing a game of making NI unworkable and highlighting that NI is a failure ( which it is under most parameters whether there is a government or not ) . The danger with this game is that it antigonises unionists and motivates them to resist anything which erodes the union as they see it, whilst most nationalists and republicans even SF supporters are annoyed by the effects of no government.
It annoys me that those promoting the Irish language are now being blamed by all unionists and most nationalists for the current fiasco , through lazy media analysis.

A few points re Irish language :
1. The Irish language act merely replicates acts in Scotland and Wales
2. Most modern civilisations respect the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture
3. Unionists lack of generosity re the Irish language mirrors their previous resistance to civil rights campaign , for some it's a manifestation of a racist anti-Irish ethos .
4. SF should define the specifics of the Act which should emphasise an evidenced based approach to promoting a language . This should include promotion and protection of positive cultural heritages for all communities , whilst calling out negative and exclusive culture for what it is.
5. SF owe it to their supporters many of whom are suffering due to lack of government to get back in to stormont and could steal the high moral ground by agreeing to Park the New cultural act for a 2 year period and would be justified in pulling the plug again if no progress agreed in that time frame. Clearly exposing DUP , whilst gaining back respect from all of nationalism and middle ground and even some unionists
6. Some sort of All-Island settlement is inevitable within the next 10 years, it seems to me that getting unionists on side should be of paramount concern for those serious about a UI

[five points]

A few points re Irish language :
1. The Irish language act merely replicates acts in Scotland and Wales
2. Most modern civilisations respect the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture
3. Unionists lack of generosity re the Irish language mirrors their previous resistance to civil rights campaign , for some it's a manifestation of a racist anti-Irish ethos .
4. SF should define the specifics of the Act which should emphasise an evidenced based approach to promoting a language . This should include promotion and protection of positive cultural heritages for all communities , whilst calling out negative and exclusive culture for what it is.
5. SF owe it to their supporters many of whom are suffering due to lack of government to get back in to stormont and could steal the high moral ground by agreeing to Park the New cultural act for a 2 year period and would be justified in pulling the plug again if no progress agreed in that time frame. Clearly exposing DUP , whilst gaining back respect from all of nationalism and middle ground and even some unionists
6. Some sort of All-Island settlement is inevitable within the next 10 years, it seems to me that getting unionists on side should be of paramount concern for those serious about a UI

Serious logic disconnect between points 3/4 and 6. You won't get anyone onside if you dismiss them as racist (!) and anti-Irish and their culture negative and exclusive.

[6th sam]

A few points re Irish language :
1. The Irish language act merely replicates acts in Scotland and Wales
2. Most modern civilisations respect the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture
3. Unionists lack of generosity re the Irish language mirrors their previous resistance to civil rights campaign , for some it's a manifestation of a racist anti-Irish ethos .
4. SF should define the specifics of the Act which should emphasise an evidenced based approach to promoting a language . This should include promotion and protection of positive cultural heritages for all communities , whilst calling out negative and exclusive culture for what it is.
5. SF owe it to their supporters many of whom are suffering due to lack of government to get back in to stormont and could steal the high moral ground by agreeing to Park the New cultural act for a 2 year period and would be justified in pulling the plug again if no progress agreed in that time frame. Clearly exposing DUP , whilst gaining back respect from all of nationalism and middle ground and even some unionists
6. Some sort of All-Island settlement is inevitable within the next 10 years, it seems to me that getting unionists on side should be of paramount concern for those serious about a UI

Serious logic disconnect between points 3/4 and 6. You won't get anyone onside if you dismiss them as racist (!) and anti-Irish and their culture negative and exclusive.

That's part of the problem
Here. We don't call out negativity and lack of generosity for what it is. And that includes those nationalists who ridicule Ulster Scots culture. Some Unionist politicians have a Clear history of racism and anti-irishness and this must be vigorously challenged particularly from
Unionists themselves. What's wrong with calling out negative and exclusive culture for what it is( And this relates to both sides) ?

[five points]

That's part of the problem
Here. We don't call out negativity and lack of generosity for what it is.

Wake up, the place is drowning in negativity and lack of generosity. As your last few posts illustrate.

[playwiththewind1st]

So everything goes tits up for the Irish language act? We have no assembly because of the Irish language act, education, nhs, funding, social welfare and everything else a local government wants to provide can't be done because of the Irish language act?

Get a majority and push it through, until then work the system.

Substitute 'denial of equality' for 'Irish Language Act' and your post will make more sense.

Now who in n.i is actually being denied equality?

People who wish to conduct  business with their government in a language spoken here for 2 millenia.

So about 5 people.

6 - if you include Gregory Campbell.

[RadioGAAGAA]

6 - if you include Gregory Campbell.

Ah, I don't think he'll find a great demand for curried yoghurt out there... no matter how much money InvestNI fires his way.

Maybe he could get a woodchip boiler in to heat the curried yoghurt factory... might be a goer.

[marty34]

So everything goes tits up for the Irish language act? We have no assembly because of the Irish language act, education, nhs, funding, social welfare and everything else a local government wants to provide can't be done because of the Irish language act?

Get a majority and push it through, until then work the system.

Substitute 'denial of equality' for 'Irish Language Act' and your post will make more sense.

Now who in n.i is actually being denied equality?

People who wish to conduct  business with their government in a language spoken here for 2 millenia.

Are you serious? Or being pedantic? While I love Irish culture and GAA speaking Irish or any other language in government isn't cutting the mustard with basic health and well-being issues, education and reform, housing and infrastructure and better solutions to helping the environment are much more crucial.

If you'd rather be able to speak Irish in government (which you can if you want to and be fluent in Irish) than sorting out real issues then knock yourself out. In the real world let's just call a spade a spade.

A state of the Art compact stadium to host Ulster finals etc is overdue, whether Casement is the place for this remains to be seen.

Would totally agree re Irish language act and real world . Health, jobs, economy , education is what directly effects all of us, and by neglecting these things many people are suffering . SF are potentially playing a game of making NI unworkable and highlighting that NI is a failure ( which it is under most parameters whether there is a government or not ) . The danger with this game is that it antigonises unionists and motivates them to resist anything which erodes the union as they see it, whilst most nationalists and republicans even SF supporters are annoyed by the effects of no government.
It annoys me that those promoting the Irish language are now being blamed by all unionists and most nationalists for the current fiasco , through lazy media analysis.

A few points re Irish language :
1. The Irish language act merely replicates acts in Scotland and Wales
2. Most modern civilisations respect the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture
3. Unionists lack of generosity re the Irish language mirrors their previous resistance to civil rights campaign , for some it's a manifestation of a racist anti-Irish ethos .
4. SF should define the specifics of the Act which should emphasise an evidenced based approach to promoting a language . This should include promotion and protection of positive cultural heritages for all communities , whilst calling out negative and exclusive culture for what it is.
5. SF owe it to their supporters many of whom are suffering due to lack of government to get back in to stormont and could steal the high moral ground by agreeing to Park the New cultural act for a 2 year period and would be justified in pulling the plug again if no progress agreed in that time frame. Clearly exposing DUP , whilst gaining back respect from all of nationalism and middle ground and even some unionists
6. Some sort of All-Island settlement is inevitable within the next 10 years, it seems to me that getting unionists on side should be of paramount concern for those serious about a UI

The problem I think is the ILA symbolises a lot more than an ILA - it's about being Irish in the 6 counties and recognition.  The English tried to wipe it out by various ways down through the centuries but it's still here.  If the DUP agree to an ILA, then it shows they have failed - that the 6 counties is Irish. That's why the ILA was kicked into tough by the OO/UDA etc.  They understand it's more important than the language itself - it symbolises all the rest.

[Franko]

So everything goes tits up for the Irish language act? We have no assembly because of the Irish language act, education, nhs, funding, social welfare and everything else a local government wants to provide can't be done because of the Irish language act?

Get a majority and push it through, until then work the system.

Substitute 'denial of equality' for 'Irish Language Act' and your post will make more sense.

Now who in n.i is actually being denied equality?

People who wish to conduct  business with their government in a language spoken here for 2 millenia.

Are you serious? Or being pedantic? While I love Irish culture and GAA speaking Irish or any other language in government isn't cutting the mustard with basic health and well-being issues, education and reform, housing and infrastructure and better solutions to helping the environment are much more crucial.

If you'd rather be able to speak Irish in government (which you can if you want to and be fluent in Irish) than sorting out real issues then knock yourself out. In the real world let's just call a spade a spade.

A state of the Art compact stadium to host Ulster finals etc is overdue, whether Casement is the place for this remains to be seen.

Would totally agree re Irish language act and real world . Health, jobs, economy , education is what directly effects all of us, and by neglecting these things many people are suffering . SF are potentially playing a game of making NI unworkable and highlighting that NI is a failure ( which it is under most parameters whether there is a government or not ) . The danger with this game is that it antigonises unionists and motivates them to resist anything which erodes the union as they see it, whilst most nationalists and republicans even SF supporters are annoyed by the effects of no government.
It annoys me that those promoting the Irish language are now being blamed by all unionists and most nationalists for the current fiasco , through lazy media analysis.

A few points re Irish language :
1. The Irish language act merely replicates acts in Scotland and Wales
2. Most modern civilisations respect the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture
3. Unionists lack of generosity re the Irish language mirrors their previous resistance to civil rights campaign , for some it's a manifestation of a racist anti-Irish ethos .
4. SF should define the specifics of the Act which should emphasise an evidenced based approach to promoting a language . This should include promotion and protection of positive cultural heritages for all communities , whilst calling out negative and exclusive culture for what it is.
5. SF owe it to their supporters many of whom are suffering due to lack of government to get back in to stormont and could steal the high moral ground by agreeing to Park the New cultural act for a 2 year period and would be justified in pulling the plug again if no progress agreed in that time frame. Clearly exposing DUP , whilst gaining back respect from all of nationalism and middle ground and even some unionists
6. Some sort of All-Island settlement is inevitable within the next 10 years, it seems to me that getting unionists on side should be of paramount concern for those serious about a UI

The problem I think is the ILA symbolises a lot more than an ILA - it's about being Irish in the 6 counties and recognition.  The English tried to wipe it out by various ways down through the centuries but it's still here.  If the DUP agree to an ILA, then it shows they have failed - that the 6 counties is Irish. That's why the ILA was kicked into tough by the OO/UDA etc.  They understand it's more important than the language itself - it symbolises all the rest.

That's it in a nutshell.

[johnnycool]

Ballbag Nolan was attempting to corner Stephen Farry on his show one morning when Farry said he'd be on for an Irish Language act.
Nolan badgered him by implying that he was giving in to one side and then nothing for the other.

Farry questioned Ballbags attempt to frame the debate around one side or the other when the Irish language should be a shared cultural experience.

Ballbag really couldn't get his head round that, but then again I don't think he's much of a deep thinker, unless it's the base of his pizza he's interested in.

[Ronnie]

From BBC Northern Ireland:

"The long-delayed Casement Park redevelopment could receive planning permission by spring, the GAA has said.
The chairman of Ulster GAA said planning authorities had indicated they were "hopeful" the process could come to an end, possibly by early April.
Tom Daly said it was "up to us in the GAA" to do what was needed to ensure a "successful planning outcome".
However a residents group, which has opposed the current plans, called for "a suitably-sized redevelopment".
His comments came after Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said she was confident a new stadium would be built.
However, she indicated a further delay in the project would mean an increase in costs.
Ms Hargey made her comments on a visit to the site of the existing stadium in west Belfast along with Mr Daly and Finance Minister Conor Murphy.
'Increased costs'
The project, now waiting on planning permission, has been the subject of legal challenge from residents in the past.
The Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association (MORA) said they have "consistently stated" their objections to "the large scale development of Casement Park".
"There are obvious questions over the suitability of Casement and this is why the planning application is taking so long," they said.
The group say they want "a suitably-sized redevelopment of Casement Park which is GAA-orientated" and "part of the natural fabric of the community".
The initial cost of the project was estimated at £77m, however, that estimate has now risen to £110m.
Deirdre Hargey, Tom Daly, Conor Murphy
Image caption
Deirdre Hargey, Tom Daly and Conor Murphy were speaking on the site of the existing stadium in west Belfast
Minister Hargey said officials had "to ensure public safety was not compromised".
"For those reasons, obviously the delay in the project meant that there would be an increase in costs around ensuring public safety as number one, then obviously an increase in costs around construction."
Ms Hargey said she wanted to see diggers on the site in the next few years.
Mr Daly added that the return of ministers at Stormont meant that a lot of the "uncertainty" around progressing the project was now gone.
The project is part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement, which was presented by the UK and Irish governments last week.
The initial proposals for the redevelopment of the stadium collapsed in 2014 under a legal challenge brought by a group of residents.
A fresh planning application was submitted in February 2017 and is now awaiting a decision from the Department for Infrastructure."

What gets my goat about this is the 15 odd years of stagnation that Antrim GAA have suffered whilst losing kids to less better sports.   If there really is a safety issue re: evacuation then that should have been something that the authorities flagged at the outset.  Rugby and football/soccer were fast-tracked above and beyond.  The GAA would have a more than arguable case that the statutory advice was less than competent.   Antrim GAA should lodge a claim.   By the by I give Stormont 12 months unless 50/50 policing is restored, so much for our standalone Irish language Act

[Milltown Row2]

It's a joke and whoever was paid to carry out the initial risk assessment for the problems that were glaringly obvious at the time (residents, evacuation procedures, infrastructure around the ground etc) should be liable. How much spent so far? 13 million?

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

It's a joke and whoever was paid to carry out the initial risk assessment for the problems that were glaringly obvious at the time (residents, evacuation procedures, infrastructure around the ground etc) should be liable. How much spent so far? 13 million?

Yep exactly