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

[thebuzz]

I was just talking to an old friend. He said he had been past Casement on the bus recently and some work appeared to be going on.

[p3427977]

I was just talking to an old friend. He said he had been past Casement on the bus recently and some work appeared to be going on.

It's demolition.

[MrsBinfield]

Or first cut of silage?

[snoopdog]

I was past it today. A sorry sight.

[Ronnie]

Sell out in Clones tomorrow.  Would've been perfect for Casement.  Dreading the traffic congestion.

[snoopdog]

Sell out in Clones tomorrow.  Would've been perfect for Casement.  Dreading the traffic congestion.

The traffic and the rain. No where does damp quiet like Clones

[bogball88]

New Casement Social Club has been well done up, a few doors down. Still as cheap for pints

[Rossfan]

Today's Examiner -

GAA concedes new Casement Park capacity will be half original plan
A scaled-down version of the Belfast venue is now likely.



Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 - 10:36
John Fogarty

The GAA has conceded that the redeveloped Casement Park will have a capacity considerably below 34,500.

At an Ulster Council meeting earlier this week, it emerged that a scaled-down version of the Belfast venue is now likely.

The stadium will still be regarded as a provincial ground, but it is expected to be reduced to about half the original size, if not smaller. It would be suitable for Antrim league and championship matches, as well as Ulster senior football semi-finals.

While the Irish Government's £43 million (€50m) pledge remains in place, the Irish Examiner understands the £50 million (€58.5m) promised by the British government may not be drawn down for several reasons.

One factor is the funding pressure currently facing the UK, with the possibility that London may be forced to renege on its announcement from 12 months ago.

There is also reluctance within the GAA, as it is understood that a condition of the funding would give the British government a place on the deeds of the new stadium.

A new sub-committee comprising GAA president-elect Derek Kent, Munster chairman Tim Murphy, trustee John Murphy and Britain GAA chairman Seán Hopkins has been tasked with assessing the project's viability.

Demolition work has been completed, and piling has taken place to ensure the five-year planning permission, which is due to lapse next month, remains valid.


However, no departmental funding has been made available for the next stage of work at the Andersonstown site: soil remediation to remove contaminated particles.

A review statement is now expected to set out details of a smaller venue, which would cost significantly less than the estimated £270 million (€315m) required to build the 34,500-capacity stadium.

The GAA's contribution to Casement Park remains £15 million (€17.5m) and is unlikely to change. The Stormont Executive's original commitment was £62.5 million (€72.9m), although finance minister John O'Dowd indicated it could rise to £101.5 million (€118.3m) to reflect inflation. However, he is likely to face opposition within the executive to that increase.

Speaking last month, GAA president Jarlath Burns said: "We're going to do a few basic bits of piling to keep that going because even if we do change the plans, which we probably will have to, it's easier to amend the plan than to apply for new planning permission.

"Whenever you are dealing with government money, there's procurement, there are all sorts of obligations, and you have to be very careful and respectful of that. So that's moving on very slowly."

Closed since 2013, Casement Park was removed as a potential Euro 2028 host venue two years ago. Citing soaring reconstruction costs and estimating the final bill at more than £400 million (€466m), the British government refused to cover the funding shortfall.

Speaking in February, GAA director general Tom Ryan said the association wanted to build "a remarkable stadium". He added: "We want to deliver a stadium that doesn't involve any debt, we want to deliver a stadium that doesn't involve any challenges with regard to its ongoing running costs."

[marty34]

Today's Examiner -

GAA concedes new Casement Park capacity will be half original plan
A scaled-down version of the Belfast venue is now likely.



Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 - 10:36
John Fogarty

The GAA has conceded that the redeveloped Casement Park will have a capacity considerably below 34,500.

At an Ulster Council meeting earlier this week, it emerged that a scaled-down version of the Belfast venue is now likely.

The stadium will still be regarded as a provincial ground, but it is expected to be reduced to about half the original size, if not smaller. It would be suitable for Antrim league and championship matches, as well as Ulster senior football semi-finals.

While the Irish Government's £43 million (€50m) pledge remains in place, the Irish Examiner understands the £50 million (€58.5m) promised by the British government may not be drawn down for several reasons.

One factor is the funding pressure currently facing the UK, with the possibility that London may be forced to renege on its announcement from 12 months ago.

There is also reluctance within the GAA, as it is understood that a condition of the funding would give the British government a place on the deeds of the new stadium.

A new sub-committee comprising GAA president-elect Derek Kent, Munster chairman Tim Murphy, trustee John Murphy and Britain GAA chairman Seán Hopkins has been tasked with assessing the project's viability.

Demolition work has been completed, and piling has taken place to ensure the five-year planning permission, which is due to lapse next month, remains valid.


However, no departmental funding has been made available for the next stage of work at the Andersonstown site: soil remediation to remove contaminated particles.

A review statement is now expected to set out details of a smaller venue, which would cost significantly less than the estimated £270 million (€315m) required to build the 34,500-capacity stadium.

The GAA's contribution to Casement Park remains £15 million (€17.5m) and is unlikely to change. The Stormont Executive's original commitment was £62.5 million (€72.9m), although finance minister John O'Dowd indicated it could rise to £101.5 million (€118.3m) to reflect inflation. However, he is likely to face opposition within the executive to that increase.

Speaking last month, GAA president Jarlath Burns said: "We're going to do a few basic bits of piling to keep that going because even if we do change the plans, which we probably will have to, it's easier to amend the plan than to apply for new planning permission.

"Whenever you are dealing with government money, there's procurement, there are all sorts of obligations, and you have to be very careful and respectful of that. So that's moving on very slowly."

Closed since 2013, Casement Park was removed as a potential Euro 2028 host venue two years ago. Citing soaring reconstruction costs and estimating the final bill at more than £400 million (€466m), the British government refused to cover the funding shortfall.

Speaking in February, GAA director general Tom Ryan said the association wanted to build "a remarkable stadium". He added: "We want to deliver a stadium that doesn't involve any debt, we want to deliver a stadium that doesn't involve any challenges with regard to its ongoing running costs."

What a farce.

[twohands!!!]

Reality finally hitting the deluded Ulster Council cheerleaders in the face.

When Ulster finals completely off the cards and with the other stadiums the Ulster Council already has access to for playing semi-finals, I can't see there being any sort of logic in building anything with capacity over 10,000. I really wouldn't be surprised if in the end it was something like a 6,000 to 8,000 sized stadium. The fact that this article is talking about the London money being in doubt strikes me as the kind of thing a GAA insider would be briefing to a "friendly" journalist like Fogarty as preparation for a much reduced size of stadium.

On the plus side this has likely saved Ulster GAA and possibly even the GAA as a whole from ending up being stuck with absolutely massive amounts of debt and paying off literally millions in interest for years on end i.e the Pairc Ui Chaoimh situation but even worse.

[Armagh18]

A shame.

[rodney trotter]

Took them long enough to realise it was a pipe dream. When it wasn't going to get the go ahead for Euro 28 it should have been decided then

[Baile Brigín 2]

So they are turning down £50m in order to not allow London veto them selling it. On the basis that if the GAA were going to it would be a shopping centre already, why is that an obstacle?

The incompetence here is so deep there must be 3d chess afoot.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Ballbags.

[marty34]

Ulster GAA has made some mess of this from the very start.