
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments.
She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon.
Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million.
Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time.
The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million.
The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review.
However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap.
On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built.
'This is an Executive flagship project.
'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.'
Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'.
'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line.
'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line.
'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all.
'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built.
'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
4 minutes ago
- BBC News
New recruit Eskesen aims to showcase 'technical skills'
Julius Eskesen can't wait to get stuck into "raw, proper football" with Dundee United after making the move from Norwegian side FK Haugesund. The midfielder, who has arrived at Tannadice on a two-year deal, told club media, external: "I'm a player that loves to play with emotion and I think this is a good match and that's something we have in common."I can imagine there is quite some intensity around matchdays."I'm definitely going to play against some really good players and with some good players. I'd like to contribute some moments of good football where you can see my technical skills. "For Dundee United I think top six is the first goal for the season and then go further on in all competitions."Although Eskesen won't be available for Thursday night's Conference League qualifier second leg against Rapid Vienna, the 26-year-old hopes the team will get the job done and give him the chance to feature in the play-off round. "I would love to," he added."The guys have to finish the good work they've put in so far but that's something every footballer dreams of, to play in European competitions."


South Wales Guardian
6 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Victorian-era floral favourites asters make comeback at UK supermarket
The blooms were popular in the Victorian era when floriography, the language of flowers, was used as a discreet way to communicate feelings. Etiquette in 19th century England discouraged open displays of emotion. Tesco Flowers expert and technical manager Jamie Simpson said the supermarket started selling asters in 2022 'not only because they look lovely but also because they are such great value for money'. 'In that first year we sold 215,000 bunches but they became so popular so quickly that last year we sold 500,000,' he said. 'This year we hope to sell nearly double that.' In 19th century England, asters were seen as a symbol of love, patience and wisdom making them a perfect gift for a loved one. They also represented elegance and grace, two qualities that were valued during the Victorian era. 'Asters are glorious flowers that have only recently come back into vogue with growers but that, in just two years, have made a sensational impact with shoppers,' said Mr Simpson. 'Aster Matsumoto which are also known as Japanese aster, bear beautiful, large daisy-like flower heads and come in many different colours such as blue, purple, pink, dark pink, red, and white all with a bright yellow centre.' The UK's biggest grower of asters, L&D Flowers based in Pinchbeck near Spalding, Lincolnshire, has grown five million stems for this season to meet demand. James Lacey, managing director at L&D Flowers, said: 'Similar to a lot of fruit grown in the UK this year we have experienced a bumper crop of asters this summer because of all the sunshine and extra hours of daylight. 'We only started growing asters three years ago as a result of the success we have had with sunflowers but we've really been taken back by just how popular the flower has become in so short a space of time. 'In 2022, to start with, we planted enough asters to create 100,000 bunches which we've been told flew off the shelves. 'This year we've grown enough for 1.2 million bunches which is an increase of 1,100% on our initial planting. 'We grow the asters on the grade one silt soils of south Lincolnshire which are not only very fertile but also retain moisture well which has helped us through all the heatwaves which we have had this summer.' According to Tesco, the reason asters have become so popular is that they are an impactful, British seasonal flower, with vivid colours, a good vase life and are priced at just £3 a bouquet. Asters are fast growing annual flowers that bloom in the late summer. The flower is native to Japan and is a member of the asteraceae family, along with other popular cut flowers such as sunflowers, dahlias, and chrysanthemums. The aster seeds are sown into plugs and are started off in the greenhouse. When the small plants have established themselves, they are transplanted out into the field to continue their growth. It takes about 12-14 weeks from planting the plus to flower harvest. Tesco's aster bouquets are priced at £3 for a single coloured bunch or £6 for a bumper mixed coloured bunch.


Metro
6 minutes ago
- Metro
What could the planned UFC fight at the White House look like?
It's a seismic moment in a sporting promotion that has had a stratospheric rise since its inception three decades ago. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to be staged at The White House next year, when longtime fan Donald Trump is likely to be in the front row as the fighters battle it out on the lawn. Marking the July 4 celebrations, 250 years on from the founding of the United States, it promises to be quite a spectacle. And British and Irish MMA fighters will almost certainly be entering the Octagon if the history-making event goes ahead. UFC boss Dana White, whose friendship with Trump stretches back to the early 2000s, said: 'It is definitely going to happen.' White explained that he plans to finalise the plans with the US president and his daughter Ivanka at the end of the month. While the UFC has been staged all over the world, it would be the first time that it has been hosted in the seat of power. The main fight events are large arena shows drawing tens of thousands of people, and it's unclear where exactly where the show would take place, but it's thought it would be staged on the lawn. 'When he called me and asked me to do it, he said, 'I want Ivanka in the middle of this,'' White told CBS Mornings of his discussions with Trump. 'So Ivanka reached out to me and her and I started talking about the possibilities, where it would be and, you know, I put together all the renderings.' Trump previously said that a UFC event will take place 'on the grounds of the White House' on Independence Day. 'We have a lot of land there,' he added. The president, speaking at a rally in Iowa last month, said the event could be staged in front of between 20,000 and 25,000 people. An AI image produced by a picture agency shows the eight-sided cage in front of the presidential building in Washington DC. In real life, the arena would likely be comprised of thousands of seats, with room for light shows and performers. What is clear is that the UFC can put on extravagant shows, best exemplified by the dazzling spectacle at the Las Vegas Sphere for Mexican Independence Weekend in September 2024. British undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is the most obvious pick for a UK fighter to feature on the White House card. However, in conversation with combat sports broadcaster Ariel Helwani, it became clear that he is concentrating on his upcoming fight with Frenchman Ciryl Gane in October. Aspinall said the thought of a White House fight with Jon 'Bones' Jones, widely regarded as having ducked the Brit before leaving retiring, had occupied 'zero seconds in my mind.' The champion, from Wigan, explained: 'Not interested, and the world shouldn't be interested, because what's the point? It's false hope.' Asked if he would still be interested in fighting at the White House without Jones making an unlikely comeback, he replied: 'Not particularly, it doesn't not interest me, but it doesn't really interest me to be honest. I'm not really fussed by it, I'll fight anywhere, it doesn't really bother me. 'It would be a cool experience but I'm not like…I feel like the Americans should get the shot at the White House, I'm not American, Trump and the political stance in America doesn't really bother me. 'I'm not really a big Trump supporter or against that stuff is just irrelevant to me.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Conor McGregor is another name from this side of the pond who has been linked with an appearance at the White House show. Also speaking to Helwani, UFC fighter Michael Chandler, who was soundly beaten by Scouser Paddy Pimblett in April, said he would 'love' to fight the Irish former two-times champion at the venue. More Trending 'That's the one everyone wants, that's the pinnacle,' he said of the yet to be announced White House card. 'As a fighter you want the biggest stages the brightest lights the biggest money you possibly can with the shortest window of opportunity you have in the sport and fighting on the White House lawn with the president of the United States… 'I was just with someone else from his team and he said people from England will be coming to pay their respects, it's going to be special.' MORE: Conor McGregor's 'Bucked Up' energy drink disappears after Wetherspoons pulls Forged stout MORE: MMA fighter shaken after man tracked her down to Dubai hotel from social media post MORE: Ex-UFC fighter in fresh bid for jail pardon after role in £53,000,000 Securitas heist Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact