Long Kesh Park takes another step forward

[ziggysego]

I wouldn't have much heat on the Dublin papers.

Either way, I don't care. The money should just be pumped into Clones, Ravenhill and Windsor Park.

[stew]

I wouldn't have much heat on the Dublin papers.

Either way, I don't care. The money should just be pumped into Clones, Ravenhill and Windsor Park.

Not at all ziggy, I would rather stand and watch as EG, sammyg and gweyltah traipse into the new stadium past the shrine, maybe they could bow their heads on the way in and think for a moment of some the innocent men incarcerated there and the fact that men were abused on the british governments watch.

Build it, I will be there watching with interest as big rab walks into the new stadium having not fulfilled his promise to destroy the monument. memo to big rab, talks cheap!

[Solomon Kane]

I wouldn't have much heat on the Dublin papers.

Either way, I don't care. The money should just be pumped into Clones, Ravenhill and Windsor Park.

Not at all ziggy, I would rather stand and watch as EG, sammyg and gweyltah traipse into the new stadium past the shrine, maybe they could bow their heads on the way in and think for a moment of some the innocent men incarcerated there and the fact that men were abused on the british governments watch.

Build it, I will be there watching with interest as big rab walks into the new stadium having not fulfilled his promise to destroy the monument. memo to big rab, talks cheap!

That must be the most bizarre motivation for the siting of a National Stadium I have ever came accross in my life.

Do your self a favour Stew - keep the sport and the paramilitary "politics" seperate.

[Maguire01]

Despite the official line that it isn't a 'shrine', some people obviously believe different (and indeed want different).  It is indeed sad that annoying other people should be the motivating factor for a new stadium in a particular location.

I think i've actually turned in my opinion on his one - i'm not so sure anymore that this is the best place for a stadium and i'm half inclined to favour a city centre venue..... only half though, still not sure.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Read the Sunday Tribune earlier and I'd be absolutely livid if what they predict turns out to be true. Basically they are saying that a stadium will be built in East Belfast instead which will house Glentoran, the north and Ulster. It doesn't make clear if this stadium is to publically funded but if such a stadium is buile, designed specifically to exclude the GAA, this needs to be challenged legally if necessary unless there is a similar investment in GAA stadia.

According to the ST, this is all part of a new hardline strategy by the DUP with the GAA as a major target. They also claim (emphasis on the claim) that part of the DUP's plan is to " encourage the exploitation of potential planning obstacles."

Can't take everything you read in the papers as fact of course, but if even a faction of this is true, it seems that we are in for tough times ahead. Hopefully we have enough leadership in the Ulster Council and Croke Park to ensure we can stand up to the uber-bigots.

[SammyG]

Read the Sunday Tribune earlier and I'd be absolutely livid if what they predict turns out to be true. Basically they are saying that a stadium will be built in East Belfast instead which will house Glentoran, the north and Ulster. It doesn't make clear if this stadium is to publically funded but if such a stadium is buile, designed specifically to exclude the GAA, this needs to be challenged legally if necessary unless there is a similar investment in GAA stadia.

Very strange comment. The GAA have said they don't want to use a stadium in Belfast, so how are they being excluded???

According to the ST, this is all part of a new hardline strategy by the DUP with the GAA as a major target. They also claim (emphasis on the claim) that part of the DUP's plan is to " encourage the exploitation of potential planning obstacles."

The article (see below) actually says that the decision is based on cost and then goes on to speculate about whether Peter the punt like the GAA. It doesn't say that the two things are linked.

Can't take everything you read in the papers as fact of course, but if even a faction of this is true, it seems that we are in for tough times ahead. Hopefully we have enough leadership in the Ulster Council and Croke Park to ensure we can stand up to the uber-bigots.

What uber-bigots would that be?

Tribune article for anybody that hasn't seen it

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

The GAA have said they don't want to use a stadium in Belfast, so how are they being excluded???

Well if its a pitch of a size they can't use and in a location they are opposed to then of course they've been excluded. Which is fine if this is a private development, if this venture is to be publically funded then its entirely abhorrent for such levels of funding to be made available to the IFA and Ulster Rugby without a similar gesture of financial support to the best attended sport in the 6 counties.

he article (see below) actually says that the decision is based on cost and then goes on to speculate about whether Peter the punt like the GAA. It doesn't say that the two things are linked.

The article (I have it beside me but thanks for the scanner work anyway) says that the line about cost is only the public line from the DUP and that the actual reason for not utilising the Maze is to appeal to disullisioned DUP supporters.

As for the 2 things being linked, it would hardly be a concidence if Robinson decided to axe the Maze and go for a project which excludes the GAA around the same time as he decides that his party should distance itself from the GAA!

What uber-bigots would that be?

The disullusioned DUP supporters whom the article claims this DUP move is designed to re-assure.

[T Fearon]

Sadly this confirms what even a blind man knows in his heart of hearts.Namely that the six county statelet will never work. At the end of the day tribe leaders take decisions not on the basis of common sense or in the interests of the whole community but in the interests of safeguarding their tribal votes.

It surely is time for Brown and Ahern to do the obvious. Scrap Stormont and implement joint authority (in which the Irish Government will have the lead role due to British disinterest).

By the way, are all three sports not required to endorse any new site? Time for the GAA to play hardball and leave the IFA without a stadium altogether, if the Maze is to be scrapped.

[Hurler on the Bitch]

Surely driving the Planters into the sea would be the only solution Tony.

[SammyG]

Sadly this confirms what even a blind man knows in his heart of hearts.Namely that the six county statelet will never work. At the end of the day tribe leaders take decisions not on the basis of common sense or in the interests of the whole community but in the interests of safeguarding their tribal votes.

In what way is wasting £204 million of tax payers money, in the interest of the whole community?

By the way, are all three sports not required to endorse any new site? Time for the GAA to play hardball and leave the IFA without a stadium altogether, if the Maze is to be scrapped.

If the report is true, why would the GAA have any say on a new football stadium?

[ziggysego]

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

If the report is true, why would the GAA have any say on a new football stadium?

The initial proposal was that the project would stand and fall depending on whether or not it had the support of all 3 major sporting organisations. These proposals would suggest that this situation has changed and that the approval of the GAA may no longer be required. If this is true it needs to be challenged.

To be honest, I can't see the proposal in its current form ever seeing the light of day. If the proposal is that it should be publically funded, then its a "cross-cutting" matter and there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that this would get cross-community support in the Executive, ignoring as it does, the sporting preferences of one section of the community.

[SammyG]

If the report is true, why would the GAA have any say on a new football stadium?

The initial proposal was that the project would stand and fall depending on whether or not it had the support of all 3 major sporting organisations. These proposals would suggest that this situation has changed and that the approval of the GAA may no longer be required. If this is true it needs to be challenged.

That was the scope for the original Maze advisory panel, if the Maze business case doesn't add up (which it clearly doesn't) then that plan is off the table and any new plans will be judged on their merits.

To be honest, I can't see the proposal in its current form ever seeing the light of day. If the proposal is that it should be publically funded, then its a "cross-cutting" matter and there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that this would get cross-community support in the Executive, ignoring as it does, the sporting preferences of one section of the community.

No idea what that means, which 'proposal in it's current form'?

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

No idea what that means, which 'proposal in it's current form'?

What's on the front page of the Tribune.

[SammyG]

No idea what that means, which 'proposal in it's current form'?

What's on the front page of the Tribune.

There are no details other than the possibility of a new football stadium at the Blanchflower site. If that site adds up (and I've no idea whether it does or not) then why would it have any problem getting funding?