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

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

No one would deny the Ulster Council messed up, Jasus they'd secretly admit that themselves but a lot of you are missing the point here. This is the Union and DUP saying F**K you fenians, you're getting f**k all from us. They are currently proud of themselves for stalling the project. It's exactly the same with the Irish signs at the new Train station...no one is doubting they messed up by not having them on the original signage and to spend that money on new signage is ludicrous but the Union and the DUP do not want anything Irish, it's not about the money for them, it's just because it Irish.
They still have it in their heads that support for the GAA is like buying weapons for the IRA, that's how they've always thought and haven't changed one bit. They gave £50m for a fecking ICE Bowl in one of the strongest loyalist areas in the Country and no one batted an eyelid and make no mistake about it if they had plans to upgrade Windsor Park the money would be found from somewhere.
They want us all to die or go away, or as they put it..."go back home to Dublin", the irony from English and Scottish settlers.
So to recap, yes we have shot ourselves in the foot and seem to be quite good at it but please don't lose sight of what this is all about...It's anti Irish...FULL STOP!!!

Since you have made the comparison, I assume from this that you agree that giving hundreds of millions of extra funding to the Casement project is also ludicrous and therefore it is irrelevant what Unionists think of the GAA, their decision is founded in logic?

How are both the same, brand new station with brand new signage v no stadium and no signage. Don't sound the same to me

You said it, not me. I've put it in bold in the original post to help.

Well then I'll take it back as they're not the same Inspector Jacques Clouseau and you know they're not the same. You're just being a smart arse.

Though you were right, they are similar, certainly from a Unionist perspective. Even without the anti-Irish bigotry.

Casement has received adequate funding to build a fine stadium and doesn't require "ludicrous" extra funding to build a super stadium which they don't really need.

The signs in English are adequate and there is no need to add Irish to them at a "ludicrous" cost.

(I've used the word ludicrous as that's how you have described the cost of Irish signage.)

Now, you can agree or disagree with either of those positions but they definitely stand up as logical and valid Unionist positions. Your rants about Unionists being anti-Irish may well be true but you are deliberately avoiding their points and playing the man. I don't think it does you any good as it comes across as though you lack a valid counter argument.

[marty34]

No one would deny the Ulster Council messed up, Jasus they'd secretly admit that themselves but a lot of you are missing the point here. This is the Union and DUP saying F**K you fenians, you're getting f**k all from us. They are currently proud of themselves for stalling the project. It's exactly the same with the Irish signs at the new Train station...no one is doubting they messed up by not having them on the original signage and to spend that money on new signage is ludicrous but the Union and the DUP do not want anything Irish, it's not about the money for them, it's just because it Irish.
They still have it in their heads that support for the GAA is like buying weapons for the IRA, that's how they've always thought and haven't changed one bit. They gave £50m for a fecking ICE Bowl in one of the strongest loyalist areas in the Country and no one batted an eyelid and make no mistake about it if they had plans to upgrade Windsor Park the money would be found from somewhere.
They want us all to die or go away, or as they put it..."go back home to Dublin", the irony from English and Scottish settlers.
So to recap, yes we have shot ourselves in the foot and seem to be quite good at it but please don't lose sight of what this is all about...It's anti Irish...FULL STOP!!!

100% illdecide.

But to some on here it's.. 'they're as bad as each other' type of waffle.

[Armamike]

The GAA isn't going to get any more money out of the British Government. Going around and around in circles.  Time to  make a call on it and either leave Casement to rot, look at alternative funding sources for the current plans or scale down the plans and build a fit for purpose stadium for Antrim in line with every other county in Ulster.  This current impasse can't be tolerated any longer.

[6th sam]

No one would deny the Ulster Council messed up, Jasus they'd secretly admit that themselves but a lot of you are missing the point here. This is the Union and DUP saying F**K you fenians, you're getting f**k all from us. They are currently proud of themselves for stalling the project. It's exactly the same with the Irish signs at the new Train station...no one is doubting they messed up by not having them on the original signage and to spend that money on new signage is ludicrous but the Union and the DUP do not want anything Irish, it's not about the money for them, it's just because it Irish.
They still have it in their heads that support for the GAA is like buying weapons for the IRA, that's how they've always thought and haven't changed one bit. They gave £50m for a fecking ICE Bowl in one of the strongest loyalist areas in the Country and no one batted an eyelid and make no mistake about it if they had plans to upgrade Windsor Park the money would be found from somewhere.
They want us all to die or go away, or as they put it..."go back home to Dublin", the irony from English and Scottish settlers.
So to recap, yes we have shot ourselves in the foot and seem to be quite good at it but please don't lose sight of what this is all about...It's anti Irish...FULL STOP!!!

100% illdecide.

But to some on here it's.. 'they're as bad as each other' type of waffle.

It's a recurrent theme to be fair , and dismissing it as " we're as bad as each other " is one of the reasons it's recurrent.

I actually disagree that Casement and signage funding are ludicrous.
But The simplistic view that money we save on sports or cultural projects is ploughed in to providing more nurses in to A&E in the Royal , is actually ludicrous .
There are enough challenges for all of us going forward locally and globally , with some horrendous things on our news daily .
Daily life isn't easy but it's made more bearable by the good things in life : sport and recreation, music and the Arts , cultural expression . Many of these generate income but sometimes it's actually not about  money, it's about fostering , and promoting the enjoyable things in life .
The GAA invested heavily in Croke Park years ago and I thought it was crazy , but look at the enjoyment , opportunities and pride it has given us in hosting Gaelic games and other events in the last 30 years. As it happens it's also generated massive income , investment and opportunities for the GAA and community .

Personally I would rethink the Casement project now almost 20 years after it was originally muted, to ensure we get the most out of it for the GAA, local, regional and national community .
Crowds are not as big as they used to be and  TV developments by may make them smaller again. A compact atmosphere generating 24-28k venue would be better and Why all-seater? Ulster needs a marquee GAA venue and a concert/conferencing venue for all. West Belfast deserves the investment and opportunities that were envisaged . The British government should be squeezed for every penny we can get off them, because they owe us. They engendered and have presided over a sectarian statelet, starting off with over 90% of the GDP of the island and ending up as an economic backwater where progression and ambition is stifled at every turn.
Do I think it's ludicrous to invest in giving us what we deserve and every other region on these islands has ? No.
Do I think promoting indigenous language is ludicrous ? No
Do I think government financing the good things in life is ludicrous? No
Do I think investing in progress and community esteem , and a long overdue feel good factor is ludicrous? No


Those , particularly from an Irish background here , who don't call out the clear sectarian motivation behind stalling casement , A5 , and Language promotion , are doing us all a disservice.

[balladmaker]

Restore Casement to an enhanced modern version of its former self.  Covered stand the length of the pitch at one side, recreate the bowl around the other three sides with seating and terracing, a bit like the Gaelic Grounds.  There was no finer sight on a summers day than a packed Casement. 

[Sportacus]

No one would deny the Ulster Council messed up, Jasus they'd secretly admit that themselves but a lot of you are missing the point here. This is the Union and DUP saying F**K you fenians, you're getting f**k all from us. They are currently proud of themselves for stalling the project. It's exactly the same with the Irish signs at the new Train station...no one is doubting they messed up by not having them on the original signage and to spend that money on new signage is ludicrous but the Union and the DUP do not want anything Irish, it's not about the money for them, it's just because it Irish.
They still have it in their heads that support for the GAA is like buying weapons for the IRA, that's how they've always thought and haven't changed one bit. They gave £50m for a fecking ICE Bowl in one of the strongest loyalist areas in the Country and no one batted an eyelid and make no mistake about it if they had plans to upgrade Windsor Park the money would be found from somewhere.
They want us all to die or go away, or as they put it..."go back home to Dublin", the irony from English and Scottish settlers.
So to recap, yes we have shot ourselves in the foot and seem to be quite good at it but please don't lose sight of what this is all about...It's anti Irish...FULL STOP!!!

100% illdecide.

But to some on here it's.. 'they're as bad as each other' type of waffle.

It's a recurrent theme to be fair , and dismissing it as " we're as bad as each other " is one of the reasons it's recurrent.

I actually disagree that Casement and signage funding are ludicrous.
But The simplistic view that money we save on sports or cultural projects is ploughed in to providing more nurses in to A&E in the Royal , is actually ludicrous .
There are enough challenges for all of us going forward locally and globally , with some horrendous things on our news daily .
Daily life isn't easy but it's made more bearable by the good things in life : sport and recreation, music and the Arts , cultural expression . Many of these generate income but sometimes it's actually not about  money, it's about fostering , and promoting the enjoyable things in life .
The GAA invested heavily in Croke Park years ago and I thought it was crazy , but look at the enjoyment , opportunities and pride it has given us in hosting Gaelic games and other events in the last 30 years. As it happens it's also generated massive income , investment and opportunities for the GAA and community .

Personally I would rethink the Casement project now almost 20 years after it was originally muted, to ensure we get the most out of it for the GAA, local, regional and national community .
Crowds are not as big as they used to be and  TV developments by may make them smaller again. A compact atmosphere generating 24-28k venue would be better and Why all-seater? Ulster needs a marquee GAA venue and a concert/conferencing venue for all. West Belfast deserves the investment and opportunities that were envisaged . The British government should be squeezed for every penny we can get off them, because they owe us. They engendered and have presided over a sectarian statelet, starting off with over 90% of the GDP of the island and ending up as an economic backwater where progression and ambition is stifled at every turn.
Do I think it's ludicrous to invest in giving us what we deserve and every other region on these islands has ? No.
Do I think promoting indigenous language is ludicrous ? No
Do I think government financing the good things in life is ludicrous? No
Do I think investing in progress and community esteem , and a long overdue feel good factor is ludicrous? No


Those , particularly from an Irish background here , who don't call out the clear sectarian motivation behind stalling casement , A5 , and Language promotion , are doing us all a disservice.

Squeeze them with what? 

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

If the nationalist community are going to call in a long overdue debt from the British government, I'd rather it was something that we actually need.

[Armagh18]

If the nationalist community are going to call in a long overdue debt from the British government, I'd rather it was something that we actually need.

That shower owe us enough that we should all be driving rolls royces ffs

[Wildweasel74]

The construction for a large stadium at existing cost, is gonna get u very little cost return, no matter how many concerts are in the place. The GAA gonna have to swallow their ridiculous ego on the issue and tender the project on the money available.

[BigGreenField]

The Dup use the levers available to them to pursue their agenda is shocking news, who would expect them to do such a thing. In respect of "calling them Out" as a politician of these parts said once said. "So what?" It'll advance not a brick in the ground, it won't change anyone's mind and makes no use of anything to fix this debacle. I've said before it suits our 2 leading parties to row about cultural matters and side step their incompetence, this is no different.

I think a lot of commentators issue is that the Gaa and various Sf and sdlp ministers over 15 years has presented the Dup with an open goal and rather than recognise that and that things have changed in respect of budget versus project size are holding out for a white knight in the shape of one of the national governments. That might happen and in the meantime Casement can sit there.

[trileacman]

Can any of you show me proof of where the DUP are blocking the building of Casement?

[RedHand88]

Can any of you show me proof of where the DUP are blocking the building of Casement?

I think the answer to that would be no.

[6th sam]

Can any of you show me proof of where the DUP are blocking the building of Casement?

I think the answer to that would be no.

I genuinely font understand either the naivety or doormat mentality of some from an "Irish " background in the 6 counties.

To my knowledge there was nothing but support for ravenhill and Windsor from nationalist politicians , and rightly so.
The casement project is slightly different to ravenhill/Windsor in that it had a 3 strand benefit : a well overdue economic boost to the most deprived area in the North, a stadium for GAA in Ulster, a fit for purpose outdoor concert venue for the North. The finance was commensurate with those goals, and similar funding for soccer was divided between Windsor and grass toots( I'd probably have preferred that split for the GAA as well. Rugby funding was less as it's a minority sport compared to soccer and GAA.
There were clear mistakes on the GAA's part in developing Casement , but there were real governance concerns in the IFA during the Windsor  process.
But the DUP has been in power during this whole casement process but at no stage have they positively sought solutions and promoted a stadium for the benefit of all.
During that same period there have been historic and continued apathy and or obstruction for Irish language promotion.
The latest DUp sports minister Gordon Lyons can't even bring himself to liaise positively with the GAA. He has the chance to influence British government to develop the only credible option for a large stadium and concert venue for all, and even influence that development and the required governance. But as with the Irish language the attitude to the GAA is begrudging and not in the spirit of the GFA which promotes equal legitimacy of both cultural traditions in the North.
That begrudging apathy has been successful
In having persistent " bad rep" for Casement which continues to stifle progress.
Tbf I think the GAA needs to be more pro-active in rethinking Casement as a "fit for purpose" income generating stadium/concert venue . The precedent for this has been set in many similar European cities, but tbf you wouldn't have half the politicians in these European cities shooting themselves and the community in the foot .
When we look at the Croke Park example , the  community development and overall tax revenue dwarfs the initial government investment .
Should it cost £400m? No
Should we go with what we have , and have a high cost venue that is not "fit for purpose ".
Should we have a modest Antrim stadium with money also for grassroots , like soccer ? Possibly.

Should we  have  a 18k seated, 10k terraced, compact quality venue for all, that generates investment , income and community esteem ? Absolutely

I'd say it's time for a  reappraisal and a concerted effort by all to get the stadium/concert venue we need, including one that will be income generating and sustainable

[6th sam]

Restore Casement to an enhanced modern version of its former self.  Covered stand the length of the pitch at one side, recreate the bowl around the other three sides with seating and terracing, a bit like the Gaelic Grounds.  There was no finer sight on a summers day than a packed Casement. 

Would agree , more compact , terraced/seated  venue would be best with a reappraised business plan

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Gordon Lyons has held the position for how long?
Sinn Féin held the same position for how many years during the Casement process? How far did they move the project?
But the DUP......