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

[RadioGAAGAA]

Why was this so bad? It is not as if Ulster lacks capacity; there are many clubs who get all sorts of things built

I can only assume it was entrusted to bullshitters who can look slick with powerpoints and interview well being full of their own importance - and interviewed by people, with the best will in the world, aren't likely to be able to critically analyse any technical answers.

Why then did the interview committee not contain at least one person of a GAA background with construction experience, as mentioned above? What has been learned from this?

But its not just construction.

In Casement, the problems so far have had little to do with actual construction (we bloody wish they'd even got as far as constructing!).


Both the management of planning, and for want of a better term, the compilation of the "business case", have been shockingly bad.


The biggest problem with PUC isn't necessarily it going over budget (although that hasn't helped), its the fact that the business case has been shown to be a pile of hopelessly over-optimistic bullshit.


Yet, that hasn't triggered any kind of introspection on the part of other stadia builds ongoing.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The problem with Cork stada, its a good stadium but situated in a heavy traffic location to get out to from the North side. Then located in a former industrial area along the river with lack pubs, shops etc. What was the Business case to jusify it unless they had Multi concerts, Munster finals. Steady championship games. There no sensible business return in this project. Casement park in the same boat.

No, the problem is it ran 35% over budget and put the Cork county board 30m in debt. And Croke Park actually praised them saying that it 'wasn't necessarily a bad outcome'.

If the GAA was a private company it would have gone bust.

But it's not. Thankfully we haven't totally sold our soul for € yet although Burns is trying his best with Allianz.

Come on. Supervalue PuC has put Cork in a financial hole they can never get out of to build a concert venue nobody wants to play in. Casement is basically the same underlying problem. Too big, too expensive, idiots in charge.

[Tony Baloney]

The problem with Cork stada, its a good stadium but situated in a heavy traffic location to get out to from the North side. Then located in a former industrial area along the river with lack pubs, shops etc. What was the Business case to jusify it unless they had Multi concerts, Munster finals. Steady championship games. There no sensible business return in this project. Casement park in the same boat.

No, the problem is it ran 35% over budget and put the Cork county board 30m in debt. And Croke Park actually praised them saying that it 'wasn't necessarily a bad outcome'.

If the GAA was a private company it would have gone bust.

But it's not. Thankfully we haven't totally sold our soul for € yet although Burns is trying his best with Allianz.

Come on. Supervalue PuC has put Cork in a financial hole they can never get out of to build a concert venue nobody wants to play in. Casement is basically the same underlying problem. Too big, too expensive, idiots in charge.

Excellent summary.

[Ronnie]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

But the decision to have Ulster finals in Belfast was only reached because they got giddy with funding levels, not because it was a strategic decision. If Cork doesn't need a 40k hall, nor does Belfast.

[armaghniac]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

But the decision to have Ulster finals in Belfast was only reached because they got giddy with funding levels, not because it was a strategic decision. If Cork doesn't need a 40k hall, nor does Belfast.

I disagree. There was a genuine desire for have a bigger profile in the city and while these advantages are sometimes exaggerated the transport connections etc are better. In the 1960s, 7 of finals were in Casement.

[DaleCooper]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

What does an annual ulster final take in?

Belfast/Ulster GAA wanted their own Croker prestige project but its hard to justfiy esp in the awful location. Worst ground to play in. Windy and cold.

Dont necessarily agree with this but a city centre stadium would be better imo. Love athletic grounds for this reason.


https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/07/29/the-case-for-a-belfast-city-centre-national-sports-stadium/

[Baile Brigín 2]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

What does an annual ulster final take in?

Belfast/Ulster GAA wanted their own Croker prestige project but its hard to justfiy esp in the awful location. Worst ground to play in. Windy and cold.

Dont necessarily agree with this but a city centre stadium would be better imo. Love athletic grounds for this reason.


https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/07/29/the-case-for-a-belfast-city-centre-national-sports-stadium/

Who plays in this city centre stadium?

[RadioGAAGAA]

Dont necessarily agree with this but a city centre stadium would be better imo. Love athletic grounds for this reason.

https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/07/29/the-case-for-a-belfast-city-centre-national-sports-stadium/

Who plays in this city centre stadium?

That might have worked if proposed 25 years ago. Far too late now.

[Sportacus]

Some suggestions Casement is eating into Sinn Féin's support. Down in the latest poll.  One political commentator said "if they can't deliver Casement with Michelle O'Neills as First Minister, then what can they deliver".
Interesting.  There's certainly a feeling the whole political situation is a hopeless case.

[armaghniac]

Lots of reports today of people unable to get buses or train to the Fleadh. Translink don't think they should put on extra services for Fenians and this would likely be true of Casement also

[thewobbler]

I'd like to go the Fleadh for an evening but yep the public transport bit worries me. Newry to Belfat trains have been full up since they went to the hourly service, let alone without the Fleadh.

[Rossfan]

Thurles getting its spake in...
From D'Examiner

GAA president Jarlath Burns has pledged he will "do everything he can" in his final six months in office to make FBD Semple Stadium the venue "it should be and can be".

With general upkeep of the stadium estimated to cost €10 million, Burns wants to see the sense of prestige restored to the Thurles venue, which had been due for an upgrade prior to the pandemic.

Electrical and plumbing work has to take place and the seats in the Kinane Stand are also expected to be replaced.


In February, the GAA presented a commissioned report to the Tipperary County Council that showed the hosting of the 2024 Munster senior hurling final was worth €3.2m to Thurles and €4.5m to the county.

In his address at the unveiling of a new statue at the stadium entitled "Ár gCluichí Féin", which was funded by the county council, Burns promised he will strive to see the venue updated.

"The future of Semple Stadium lies in myself and others to ensure that in the next 10 years it gets the funding to make the people who walk past this statue proud to be in this stadium and proud to see it as a part of the future of the GAA.

"I make that pledge to you today: in the final few months I have as Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael I will do everything I can to honour this stadium and to make it the stadium that it should be and can be and was whenever it was built by the visionaries like Tom Semple."


Speaking last month, Tipperary GAA said early refurbishment work was to begin on the venue later this year. The ownership model of the stadium could also change.


In an interview with Tipp FM's 'Across The Line', Burns confirmed the GAA were assessing funding streams to meet the upgrade. "The GAA only has €12m every year for infrastructure – we give €5m for clubs and €7m to counties.

"If you look at all the infrastructural projects going on around the country all of this is coming because of a) demographic change and b) the number of people who want to play our games and c) when people go to a game now they want to watch it in comfort because Croke Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh sets the standard.

"There are plenty of other stadiums around the country that set a high standard and we want Semple Stadium to meet that level as well because this is where it all began."