Antrim Hurling

[Jeepers Creepers]

Surely there is a channel to use to get a direct answer as to exactly what Antrim GAA are getting out of it?

[Milltown Row2]

Surely there is a channel to use to get a direct answer as to exactly what Antrim GAA are getting out of it?

Would one of your dedicated clubmen with years of club commitment and now county commitment not be in a better position to tell you rather than the hearsay on here??

[btdtgtt]

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

It is public money that has been assigned to Sporting Organisations i.e. IRFU - Ulster the Soccer men and Ulster GAA - not to community activists or lobbyists. I think it is naive in the extreme to think that they are in it for anything other than their own interests long term.

Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?

What are the GAA giving up for their support? Nothing. What do you think they could or would give up? How? Why would anyone want them to give anything up?

Not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening.
What's happening is that an organisation charged with promoting West Belfast is supporting a new stadium in West Belfast. It'd be highly curious if they were not.

So you believe that in exchange for their support they are not being offered anything? Naive much?

So either I am naive or you are a conspiracy theorist. I'll take that - especially since I've explained why they support casement already - but you have been unable to tell me what exactly they have "been offered" or why.

I for one as an Antrim Gael do not want us to be giving up the rights to our own county ground, with no say in when its open, for how many games and whether we will have access to it etc etc etc I also as part of that take issue with a special interest group, exerting external influence on promoting this, until we as a collective of Antrim gaels have been given reassurances around these issues.

No argument there. But that's an old debate on the Casement Project between Antrim and Ulster Council - it's got absolutely nothing to do with the "Feile Crowd"

To extend the point further, I want what is best for Antrim GAA - not what will regenerate West Belfast. If the two happen to coincide then mores the better but not at the expense of the first.
Nice for you. But the public money has been allocated for the project at Casement. Your point here is irrelevant again. The money was allocated to Casement Project in conjunction with ravenhill and Windsor - it's not an argument about West Belfast community Vs Antrim GAA. The money is going to casement - nowhere else. Get over it.

It is not the responsibility of or the gift of anyone one to give up the rights to our county ground simply to get a stadium built to suit the needs of Ulster council. You're coming to this debate a bit late - scroll back a load of pages. I was one person who argued the same.

Therefore anyone who is supportive of pushing this through I consider to have an ulterior motive in this. Let's try again. The motive of the "Feile crowd" is the future of West Belfast. They support a regenerated Casement as part of that. They are duty bound to support the project in the area - and so they do - they don't want anything from the GAA other than the stadium built  - they are doing their job by lobbying in support of it - the new Stadium is of mutual interest to West Belfast and Antrim GAA - that's the motive - not some hidden agenda to take over the world via Antrim GAA (although you have yet to tell us what it is you think other than your conspiracy theory).

Your points about Project Casement - are a different debate altogether, and an old one.
Your points about the Feile crowd - they are wild conspiracy theories and to be quite frank the "Feile crowd" have the ear of movers and shakers well beyond Antrim GAA, it's laughable to think Antrim GAA can be used for anything we are small fry!

[NAG1]

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

It is public money that has been assigned to Sporting Organisations i.e. IRFU - Ulster the Soccer men and Ulster GAA - not to community activists or lobbyists. I think it is naive in the extreme to think that they are in it for anything other than their own interests long term.

Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?

What are the GAA giving up for their support? Nothing. What do you think they could or would give up? How? Why would anyone want them to give anything up?

Not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening.
What's happening is that an organisation charged with promoting West Belfast is supporting a new stadium in West Belfast. It'd be highly curious if they were not.

So you believe that in exchange for their support they are not being offered anything? Naive much?

So either I am naive or you are a conspiracy theorist. I'll take that - especially since I've explained why they support casement already - but you have been unable to tell me what exactly they have "been offered" or why.

I for one as an Antrim Gael do not want us to be giving up the rights to our own county ground, with no say in when its open, for how many games and whether we will have access to it etc etc etc I also as part of that take issue with a special interest group, exerting external influence on promoting this, until we as a collective of Antrim gaels have been given reassurances around these issues.

No argument there. But that's an old debate on the Casement Project between Antrim and Ulster Council - it's got absolutely nothing to do with the "Feile Crowd"

To extend the point further, I want what is best for Antrim GAA - not what will regenerate West Belfast. If the two happen to coincide then mores the better but not at the expense of the first.
Nice for you. But the public money has been allocated for the project at Casement. Your point here is irrelevant again. The money was allocated to Casement Project in conjunction with ravenhill and Windsor - it's not an argument about West Belfast community Vs Antrim GAA. The money is going to casement - nowhere else. Get over it.

It is not the responsibility of or the gift of anyone one to give up the rights to our county ground simply to get a stadium built to suit the needs of Ulster council. You're coming to this debate a bit late - scroll back a load of pages. I was one person who argued the same.

Therefore anyone who is supportive of pushing this through I consider to have an ulterior motive in this. Let's try again. The motive of the "Feile crowd" is the future of West Belfast. They support a regenerated Casement as part of that. They are duty bound to support the project in the area - and so they do - they don't want anything from the GAA other than the stadium built  - they are doing their job by lobbying in support of it - the new Stadium is of mutual interest to West Belfast and Antrim GAA - that's the motive - not some hidden agenda to take over the world via Antrim GAA (although you have yet to tell us what it is you think other than your conspiracy theory).

Your points about Project Casement - are a different debate altogether, and an old one.
Your points about the Feile crowd - they are wild conspiracy theories and to be quite frank the "Feile crowd" have the ear of movers and shakers well beyond Antrim GAA, it's laughable to think Antrim GAA can be used for anything we are small fry!

Do you not see that you have already dismissed your own side of the debate, why do they need the ear of anyone? Why all of a sudden are they so heavily involved in Antrim matters?

Not conspiracy theories or anything of the sort merely pointing out the obvious and questioning it.

[btdtgtt]

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

It is public money that has been assigned to Sporting Organisations i.e. IRFU - Ulster the Soccer men and Ulster GAA - not to community activists or lobbyists. I think it is naive in the extreme to think that they are in it for anything other than their own interests long term.

Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?

What are the GAA giving up for their support? Nothing. What do you think they could or would give up? How? Why would anyone want them to give anything up?

Not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening.
What's happening is that an organisation charged with promoting West Belfast is supporting a new stadium in West Belfast. It'd be highly curious if they were not.

So you believe that in exchange for their support they are not being offered anything? Naive much?

So either I am naive or you are a conspiracy theorist. I'll take that - especially since I've explained why they support casement already - but you have been unable to tell me what exactly they have "been offered" or why.

I for one as an Antrim Gael do not want us to be giving up the rights to our own county ground, with no say in when its open, for how many games and whether we will have access to it etc etc etc I also as part of that take issue with a special interest group, exerting external influence on promoting this, until we as a collective of Antrim gaels have been given reassurances around these issues.

No argument there. But that's an old debate on the Casement Project between Antrim and Ulster Council - it's got absolutely nothing to do with the "Feile Crowd"

To extend the point further, I want what is best for Antrim GAA - not what will regenerate West Belfast. If the two happen to coincide then mores the better but not at the expense of the first.
Nice for you. But the public money has been allocated for the project at Casement. Your point here is irrelevant again. The money was allocated to Casement Project in conjunction with ravenhill and Windsor - it's not an argument about West Belfast community Vs Antrim GAA. The money is going to casement - nowhere else. Get over it.

It is not the responsibility of or the gift of anyone one to give up the rights to our county ground simply to get a stadium built to suit the needs of Ulster council. You're coming to this debate a bit late - scroll back a load of pages. I was one person who argued the same.

Therefore anyone who is supportive of pushing this through I consider to have an ulterior motive in this. Let's try again. The motive of the "Feile crowd" is the future of West Belfast. They support a regenerated Casement as part of that. They are duty bound to support the project in the area - and so they do - they don't want anything from the GAA other than the stadium built  - they are doing their job by lobbying in support of it - the new Stadium is of mutual interest to West Belfast and Antrim GAA - that's the motive - not some hidden agenda to take over the world via Antrim GAA (although you have yet to tell us what it is you think other than your conspiracy theory).

Your points about Project Casement - are a different debate altogether, and an old one.
Your points about the Feile crowd - they are wild conspiracy theories and to be quite frank the "Feile crowd" have the ear of movers and shakers well beyond Antrim GAA, it's laughable to think Antrim GAA can be used for anything we are small fry!

Do you not see that you have already dismissed your own side of the debate, why do they need the ear of anyone? Why all of a sudden are they so heavily involved in Antrim matters?

And again - they have the ears of people outside of the GAA for non-GAA matters - they don't need Antrim GAA at all, and don't want whatever it is your grand conspiracy theory thinks - because you have never said.

Simple. Here goes. Again.
They are a group tasked to improve West Belfast - supporting a West Belfast project.
It really is that simple. So much so that if they were not proactively supporting Casement - I for one would be asking why not.

Not conspiracy theories or anything of the sort merely pointing out the obvious and questioning it.
And you have got your answer. Over and over again. You just prefer to disregard what is blatently simple & obvious in favour some West Belfast conspiracy masterplan in your head.
What about the Ulster Council & Stormont Ministers from both sides of our politics which this "Feile Crowd" have also met to promote a project in West Belfast - are they part of your conspiracy too?

I'm starting to think the Tipperary match should have been played up the Glens NAG - let you lads could have organise it, finance it, you wouldn't have needed to go to Belfast to see it, and we could have checked out how us McCooeys can invent conspiracy theories as a result.

Give it up man - it's a simple situation that is been easily explained. You just been watching a bit much TV to accept that.

[NAG1]

Read back over my posts, no issue with the venue for the match no issue with the match itself or the activities around it.

As I said its not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening. Nothing to do with NA/ Belfast divide, a simple observation.

You are saying they are lobbying group charged with developing W Belfast?

"Féile an Phobail -
Féile an Phobail was established in West Belfast in 1988 and has evolved to become one of the major arts and festival organisations in the north of Ireland. Its growth over the past 24 years has been rapid and the organisation now provides an annual programme that are firmly entrenched in Ireland's festival calendar."

Tell me where in that mission statement it says that they are experts in stadiums/ Redevelopment?

I will spell it out for you once more IMO this is not a West Belfast stadium, this is an Antrim County stadium, therefore anyone exerting influence on the consultation/ design/ building of a stadium for their own reasons be that the redevelopment of West Belfast, economic regeneration or for the Arts and Culture of the region, should be answerable to ALL Antrim Gaels.

Again not to confuse the issue, I am not against any of these things happening and would like to see them all happen in fact. But the primary interest for me is to get the best deal/ stadium for a kid in Ballycastle/ Glenarm/ Larne/ Portglenone the same as one from Andersonstown. All other factors are secondary IMO - that means that people who are backing/ promoting the stadium for their own reasons outside of this IMO should be held accountable and declare their interest in any future development.

[btdtgtt]

Read back over my posts, no issue with the venue for the match no issue with the match itself or the activities around it.

As I said its not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening. Nothing to do with NA/ Belfast divide, a simple observation.

You are saying they are lobbying group charged with developing W Belfast?

"Féile an Phobail -
Féile an Phobail was established in West Belfast in 1988 and has evolved to become one of the major arts and festival organisations in the north of Ireland. Its growth over the past 24 years has been rapid and the organisation now provides an annual programme that are firmly entrenched in Ireland's festival calendar."

Tell me where in that mission statement it says that they are experts in stadiums/ Redevelopment?

That's why I kept using "" in "Feile Crowd" as it's not the body which is lobbying on behalf of the stadium at all. Maybe you didn't grasp that. Failte Feirste Thiar / Visit West Belfast is one group lobbying in support of the stadium. And equally none of the many bodies (you have singled out only one, and one which is not even involved) lobbying for casement are nor need to be expert's in stadium redevelopment any more that I lobby for a tax deduction but I'm not an accountant.

I will spell it out for you once more IMO this is not a West Belfast stadium, this is an Antrim County stadium, Wrong! The money was allocated to Ulster Council, and once public money is involved there are may stakeholders. Again, that's a separate point and an old debate. therefore anyone exerting influence on the consultation/ design/ building of a stadium for their own reasons be that the redevelopment of West Belfast, economic regeneration or for the Arts and Culture of the region, should be answerable to ALL Antrim Gaels. Being answerable is fine, nobody disputes accountability. You said they shouldn't be involved - that's a different matter. But you should know that in terms of casement the accountability lies to more than just Antrim gaels.

Again not to confuse the issue, I am not against any of these things happening and would like to see them all happen in fact. But the primary interest for me is to get the best deal/ stadium for a kid in Ballycastle/ Glenarm/ Larne/ Portglenone the same as one from Andersonstown. All other factors are secondary IMO - that means that people who are backing/ promoting the stadium for their own reasons outside of this IMO should be held accountable and declare their interest in any future development.

They are accountable, that's why they are lobbying for the stadium. If they didn't they'd be in dereliction of their duty. They are backing the stadium because their interest is in promoting West Belfast - that's their job. If you want a stadium in Larne - get Larne folk to lobby for one. Or maybe those in somewhere like Dunsilly for a random example. It was never within the gift of Antrim GAA to decide where this money was to be spent. It has to be built somewhere - Belfast & Casement is the only option - and that's where the money has been allocated for. Again, you are coming to this debate very late and this is the only show in town - get over it. 

[north_antrim_hound]

Will you two get a room

The only significant bit here is who owns casement
As nag says it should never have been signed over without consultation of the clubs
The people who where the trustees on land registry didn't own it to sign it over
Casement belongs to the Gaels of Antrim and they should have been consulted
I also heard the sign over fee was paultry
Apparently SV are re-negotiating this to the tune of millions
Or is this another story that's grown a pair of legs
If this happens am I correct in saying casement is then the sole property of Ulster council
I am confused by the whole thing

[btdtgtt]

Will you two get a room

The only significant bit here is who owns casement
As nag says it should never have been signed over without consultation of the clubs
The people who where the trustees on land registry didn't own it to sign it over
Casement belongs to the Gaels of Antrim and they should have been consulted
I also heard the sign over fee was paultry
Apparently SV are re-negotiating this to the tune of millions
Or is this another story that's grown a pair of legs
If this happens am I correct in saying casement is then the sole property of Ulster council
I am confused by the whole thing

I get NAGs point on this - and I'm in total agreement - indeed it's a point I supported on here months and years ago!

But my point is it's a debate that's got nothing to do with West Belfast or it's quangos!
The slant there was absolute conspiracy paranoia nonsense!

ANd don't hold any breath for SV securing any sort of different deal whatsoever.
The ship has sailed lads.
There WILL be a new Casement.
We WON'T have full control over it.
That was realised long ago.

[NAG1]

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

[north_antrim_hound]

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

Now your talking

What about London this weekend
Dead cert or another banana skin like last year

[paddyjohn]

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

Now your talking

What about London this weekend
Dead cert or another banana skin like last year

We seem to be a different kettle of fish, squad training away and going well by all accounts, I think a win on Sunday by 3/4.

[Minder]

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

Just before we go - I have seen Visit West Belfast/ Failte Feirste Thiar in "action" over the last 10 years or so, and it's basically a vehicle to hoover up funding in that sector. And let's just say their funding wouldn't be commesurate with their output. As for them being "duty bound" to promote West Belfast, are you serious? If they never lifted a hand again nobody would notice and the funding would continue to roll in. For quite a few years their office on the Falls Rd consisted of a fella manning a Twitter account but they where never far from a foreign junket to "promote West Belfast", I remember seeing they where in Milwaukee of all places promoting West Belfast...........

So that why I was a little surprised and sceptical to see them getting so involved with Casement.

As NAG1 said we will agree to disagree

[Milltown Row2]

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

Now your talking

What about London this weekend
Dead cert or another banana skin like last year

Should stuff London by at least 15 points.... regardless of the London lads they are in the intermediate final we should walk away with a handy win

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Is Liam Watson hurling for London in the national league? i know he did say he would be representing them in the Lory M cup later on this year for London.

Aside from that i would expect our lads to win by 10 or more. Seen them training on sunday morning up at Dunsilly and got chatting to a few of them. All are well up for the league campaign and to get a lash at promotion again.