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The Euro bid was proposed by the FA, FAI, IFA, SFA and the Welsh FA so really it was their plan to host games at Casement more so than the British government. It should be noted too that it was the IFA hierarchy who were willing to have NI's games at Casement.

Sunak and Varadkar signed the final proposal that included Casement. The final submission to UEFA is still viewable online (although slow to load).
https://ukandirelanduefaeuro2028bid.bylder.io/?link_id=7#!/admin/slideshow/presentation/3/chapter/2/slide/1

Of course the troglodytes of the DUP and TUV weren't happy about Casement for sectarian reasons but to say they swayed the decision of Labour to not give hundreds of millions to Casement is rubbish.

That may be, but once Unionists, and NI Supporters and may others made Casement a subject of controversy (which they did with a zealous intensity), it made it easier for the UK government to pull out. It began with Sunak talking about 2.6 billion in socio-economic benefits to the UK, and ended with no money to renovate Casement.

You sir are talking sh1te. I'm not sticking nothing up to the Prods, I keep posting it's being blocked because it's for the GAA and the Unionist/Loyalist community would rather die than see this stadium built, that's a fact. I can't see what's wrong with making a factual statement like that. I've said many times if this scenario was Windsor Park or Ravenhill it would have been already built (The GAA didn't cover themselves in glory with this either). That's my opinion and you're entitled to yours...Sin e.
Ohh and why would you think the Ulster Council would bill every club for that money?. I'm hoping you were taking the P155

Can you show me exactly where the Prods blocked Casement previously? Like specifically where it was ready to happen and didn't because of themmuns? Stormont (including the unionists) green lighted the funding including giving the GAA a share that was almost double what the IFA and IRFU got. The local residents blocked the planning and it fell through. Then it turned out the GAAs plans were unsafe and didn't pass HandS. By the time Mark Durkan of the SDLP bulldozed the new plans through Stormont had collapsed and the funding was on hiatus. Instead of drawing up a revised sensible plan that could proceed as soon as Stormont got off the ground, the GAA stuck to a stadium plan that they don't have any money for.

One correction on that. NI soccer and GAA were granted equivalent amounts by Stormont in 2011. It's just that the soccer allocation was to be divided between Windsor upgrade (for which the IFA contributed nothing near what the GAA are expected to contribute) and Irish League clubs.

While all those planning delays and resident objections are responsible for the initial Casement project not being built in time with that initial 62 million, when it was submitted as an official stadium for Euro 28 signed off by both British and Irish Government, that's when Unionist objections and Unionist Press went into overdrive. That was extraordinary for a number of reasons. The Irish government has allocated billions to projects in North at expense of Irish taxpayer - as indeed they should after neglecting nationalist community for a century. The message was clear from Unionist politicians that British taxpayer should not be funding Casement Park to be a UEFA standards stadium. Health and everything was brought into it as if Casement was responsible for dire state of health services. You'd swear also that Nationalists are not taxpayers to British coffers. On top of that, when UK sign up to host international events like the Olympics and indeed Euro 2028, billions are used to fund infrastructure. You can be sure there will be no objections from anyone when billions go into UK hosting the Womens World Cup. But Casement was targeted, simply because it was a GAA stadium in Andytown. And both Tories and Labour then weaseled out on a commitment they signed off on for Euro 28 to the delight of some (we know who they are).

Donegal v Mayo - Draw (if ever a game was destined for a draw)
Cavan v Tyrone - Tyrone by 3
Kerry v Meath - Kerry by 4
Cork v Roscommon - Ros by 3
Monaghan v Down - Monaghan by 2
Louth v Clare - Louth by 4
Armagh v Galway - Galway by 2
Derry v Dublin - Dublin by 2

It will be an exciting weekend of football and powers that be probably ditched the format too soon. Yes only 4 go out after 3 rounds, but 4 more out next week, and 4 more the weekend after. It's carnage from now on.

I thought a Blur  top 3 would  have had more contributions given the  age demographics on the board

Next 3 will give a good idea of the age demo and psychographics of the board, and whether we're populated by melancholy shoegazing miserabalists, or scuffy lads who liked to drink big durty pints of black porter in O'Donaghues, or even scruffier long haired denim clad air guitarists with repetitive wrist syndrome. Bring it on, Austin.

While they might be glorified friendlies, North are basically guaranteed a WC playoff spot for winning their wee League C Nations league group, no matter how they do in WC group. While FAIreland have only one route to a playoff: come second in WC group.

Ronaldo who was looking like a passenger makes it 2-2.

Ireland's main WC group challenger Portugal in action against Spain in Nations League final. 1-1 after 27 mins.

Apologies - see there's a separate nations league thread.

The NI Time Life & Times survey has always delivered the most pro-Union results. The latest will surely shock Unionists. When you click in and review the survey itself, the people describing themselves as British only has fairly declined.  Link:

https://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2024/Political_Attitudes/

From the Irish News:

Gap between Irish unity supporters and unionists halves within 12 months
The Northern Ireland Life & Times Survey shows for the first time that a greater number of young people support Irish unity

The gap between those advocating Irish unity and those who believe in maintaining the union has halved in the space of a year, according to the latest Northern Ireland Life & Times Survey.

The proportion supporting the constitutional status quo dropped by five percentage points year-on-year to 42%, while the number in favour of Irish unification increased by a single point to 36% – a difference of six percentage points.

In the previous 2023 survey, the difference between the two opposing groups was 12 percentage points, and two years before that it stood at 23 percentage points.

Elsewhere, the research conducted annually by Queen's University and Ulster University shows a greater number in the youngest cohort supporting unity for the first time.

Of the 18-24 year-olds questioned, 48% back unification, compared to 30% who are opposed to constitutional change and 12% who don't know.

The research also indicates that a majority of people – some 61% – are convinced Ireland will be united at some point in the next 20 years, with just 16% believing the region's constitutional status won't change.

Brexit appears to be one of the key drivers in growing support for Irish unity. Some 37% said the UK leaving the European Union made them feel more in favour of a united Ireland, compared to 9% who said it meant they were less in favour. However, 45% who said Brexit made no difference.

Colum Eastwood, former SDLP leader and chair of the party's New Ireland Commission, described the survey results as "really positive and heartening".

The Foyle MP said there was a "small health warning with all polling" but that the overall trend pointed to "consistent levels of support for a new Ireland".

He said the campaign for unity had yet to truly begin but already there was evidence of a "growing group of persuadables - especially younger people who are hungry for change".

"The work that the New Ireland Commission is doing is aimed at people who recognise that what we have right now isn't as good as it gets and that constitutional change could deliver better," he said.

"We're exploring the issues that matter to them and the kind of new society they want to be a part of. We're very optimistic about the prospectus for change."

Historian and Irish News columnist Brian Feeney said the narrowing of the gap between supporters of unity and advocates of the union since 2020 was "really remarkable".

"A lot of the figures indicate changes in political sentiment but they also demonstrate rapidly changing demography with the unionist population on a down escalator which is accelerating," he said.

"This statistical trend has been seen in recent elections. The nationalist majority in universities is obvious and there's an even greater majority in Catholic schools whose pupils will soon join the electoral register – all of which should impress on the Irish government the need to begin urgent preparations for an inevitable referendum."

The Ireland's Future board member said it was "irresponsible to ignore what the figures clearly foretell".

1-1 in the end with Senegal stepping it up in second half.

Good first half by Ireland and lead 1-0 at h/t in friendly v Senegal. Good goal by McAteer, showed good goal poaching instincts to get it on second attempt.

If there's one thing you have to hand to Galway it's the confidence they bring and respect they have from all n sundry whilst doing absolutely nothing .  Scrapped by a very average (general feeling not mine ) mayo team in Connacht final
Beaten by the beaten docket of the dubs (again the general feeling )

Scrapped a draw against again not a fancied Derry team .
All this on top of bottling an all Ireland final last year (bottling it , is losing a final when odds on to win it )

Jaysus Larryin89, you've entered "two bald men fighting over a comb" territory there.

Not everyone online appreciates the interconnectivity of picking the stadia.
Mayo and Donegal could not play in Breffni because Cavan and Tyrone has to be at the same time, and there's no grounds staff available for Breffni.
So if Clones was picked then Monaghan v Down would have to be played the day before for the same reason.
But if Monaghan and Down was played the day before, then Páirc Esler would not be available for Dublin v Derry, for the same reason again, etc etc

The Rossies seem to get the short end of the straw with all these towns.

Rough part of Athlone, Carrick On Shannon, Shannonbridge and the great people of Ballaghderreen want to be Mayo

Born and bred in Ballaghaderreen. Always a Roscommon man. You are correct on one point: the people are great (even some of the Mayo ones).

The Kinks were a big influence for sure.

Chemical World
Girls & Boys
Barbaric

I know the fixtures should be out any minute, but, its very very frustrating waiting to see where and when games will be. People are trying to make plans and theyre leaving everyone waiting....I understand it comes down to television rights and they didnt want to commit to potential dead rubber games so then we all have to suffer and wait....

There's the further complication that they can't pick a venue if the county team is playing elsewhere that day, as they won't have the grounds staff. The logistics for this round is much more complicated.