Antrim Gaels urge Secretary of State to honour promises around Casement Park
It comes as long-awaited plans for the redevelopment of the now derelict ground remain mired in uncertainty.
Plans for a 34,000-capacity venue face a major funding gap of around £150 million.
Stormont has committed £62.5 million to Casement, while the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million and the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million.
There has been speculation the UK government will announce next week whether it will plug the remaining funding gap for the estimated £270 million cost.
Ahead of that, representatives of South Antrim GAA, including young people from clubs across the county, travelled to the Northern Ireland Office base at Erskine House in Belfast city centre to hand a letter in to Mr Benn.
The letter notes that next week will mark the 12th anniversary of the last GAA game to be played at Casement Park.
They said while investment in the Windsor Park football stadium and rugby ground at Ravenhill promised in 2011 were delivered, Casement is still waiting.
The letter also refers to further disappointment last year when hopes of rebuilding Casement as a venue for the 2028 Euros were dashed.
It reminded Mr Benn of an assurance by former secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris that funding would be found to rebuild Casement.
'That promise was as empty as the stands at Casement Park today, and the Euros will now be played elsewhere,' they said.
'The GAA, the Irish Government and the Executive have each made formal commitments to this project, all of which remain firmly in place.
'We are now calling on you as Secretary of State, to honour the commitment given to our members that Casement Park will be built, and that the money will be found.'
The letter continued: 'Casement Park will leave a legacy that transforms Gaelic Games in Antrim and Ulster, creating unparalleled sporting and economic opportunities, and enhancing community relations setting the tone for reconciliation that will be remembered for generations to come.
'It's time to stop the dithering and delay. It's time to live up to all the promises and commitments. It's time to finally build Casement.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Irish FA chief makes plea for equal funding between sports as major call beckons over Casement Park
Former Irish FA President Jim Boyce has argued that football and rugby need to be treated on a fair and equal basis to the GAA if the UK Government and NI Executive plough more money into the west Belfast stadium. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to announce a comprehensive spending review on Wednesday and the GAA is hopeful the Government will make a financial contribution to the Casement Park redevelopment.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Steve Clarke must heed the Ange Postecoglu warning and fix up or risk his Scotland legacy writes Bill Leckie
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THREE years ago, Steve Clarke dragged himself to Armenia for the last game of a long season with his reputation hanging by a thread. Tomorrow night over in Liechtenstein, history repeats. 4 Steve Clarke is in a familiar position under pressure as Scotland boss Credit: PA 4 His side travel to Leichtenstein after Friday's humbling at home to Iceland Credit: PA 4 The goalkeeper situation is just one challenge facing the boss Credit: Kenny Ramsay Had he failed to deliver in Yerevan off the back of a 3-0 dismal drubbing in Dublin that had the Tartan Army howling for blood, he might not have been around to lead us to the Euros in Germany. Now? Let's not kid ourselves on that what had been a meaningless friendly in sleepy Vaduz hasn't become every bit as crucial. Let's not pretend there isn't a growing feeling that he's not the right man to take us into this autumn's World Cup qualifiers. As I wrote in this column back in June 2022, there comes a point for every Scotland manager — from Wee Berti to Big Eck, from Burley to Levein and more — from which there's no coming back. That Clarke dragged himself back from the brink of that point once, a 4-1 win over Armenia leading to the best run of his reign, did him huge credit. But to be back in the same place now is hugely worrying. Or, at least, it is to you and I as punters. Whether it means that much to the man himself? Well, let's rewind to a statement he made before our Nations League play-off against Greece in March, when he responded to a question about his future from my colleague Robert Grieve. He said then he was "running down my contract". Napoli fan gets incredible Scott McTominay tattoo with permanent nod to Scotland hero's bizarre new nickname Not putting all thoughts of stepping down on hold until the job's done. Not leaving his future in the hands of SFA blazers. Not being 1000% committed to the dream of leading us out on the biggest stage of all. But running down his contract. I'm not the only one those words jarred with at the time, nor can I be the only one whose head they're swirling around after how the Greeks dismantled us and how shambolic we were in that 3-1 loss to Iceland on Friday night. You'd hope he didn't mean those words they way they came across. But since no one at the SFA has clarified the statement and given that he has passed up plenty of opportunities since to do so personally, we can only presume he did. If so, it suggests — as did three months of self-imposed radio silence in the wake of our disastrous German campaign — that Clarke is very much in charge of if and when he walks away. Which, for me, leaves the SFA painted into the same corner over who leads us into the World Cup qualifiers as they are over who played in goals against Iceland. Late on Friday night Clarke repeated his claim that he's been warning his bosses for months about us being light between the sticks, what with Craig Gordon pushing 43 and no outstanding successor breathing down his neck. In the spaces between his words, the message seemed obvious: we ended up with quaking rookie Cieran Slicker taking the flak for a chaotic defeat because the Blazers sat on their hands. On this, I'll make three points. Scott McTominay's career Born in Lancaster on December 8, 1996 Joined the Manchester United youth system aged five and signed his first professional contract in 2013 Made his Premier League debut against Arsenal in May 2017 McTominay went on to win Carabao Cup and FA Cup with Man Utd Made 255 appearances and scored 29 goals for the Red Devils McTominay joined Napoli in August for £25.7million Born in England, he qualified for Scotland through his dad who's from Helensburgh McTominay was called-up by Scotland in March 2018 and has gone on to become a huge Hampden favourite He was part of the squad at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 He won his 50th cap while playing against Germany at Euro 2024 McTominay has scored some huge goals for Scotland, including an injury-time winner against Israel and his famous double in the 2-0 win over Spain in Glasgow One, that if a manager has enough clout to decide when his time's up, he surely has enough to TELL his bosses to sort something this important. Two, that finding players should be HIS job in the first place, not theirs. And three? That if he was struggling for cover after losing Gordon, Zander Clark and Liam Kelly, he could have called in a Ross Doohan, a Scott Bain or a Jon McCracken as cover for Angus Gunn and Robby McCrorie. Not someone who, at 22, still hasn't even played a senior league game. Instead, he spent Saturday chasing Doohan for an occasion that suddenly takes on the importance of a qualifying-group shootout. That's not a good look for anyone involved. At a time when Clarke himself talks of a dressing room full of champions, what must McTominay and Gilmour, Robertson and McGinn, Ferguson and Tierney be thinking as they haul themselves to one last camp after draining campaigns only to find we're one pulled hamstring from playing backy-in goalies? Only they can tell us that. But let me tell you what I'm thinking — that Steve Clarke is in danger of losing his grip on Scotland and of ruining the legacy most of us wished he'd leave behind. Sure, there's an argument that after taking us to our first two international tournaments in a generation, his legacy should be assured. But I'll counter that with two words: Ange Postecoglou. 4 Ange Postecoglou's Spurs fate proves that legacies are never safe in football Credit: Getty Fact is, if a manager can be emptied a fortnight after winning his club's first European trophy in 41 years, it can sure as hell happen to anyone. Fact is, if any manager started next season with four wins in 21 games, he'd been gone before the 22nd kicked off — and that's Steve Clarke's current record. Fact is, when Scotland were flying, no one bothered that Clarke lived in London and was, to all intents and purposes, working part-time. But now, you look at Craig Bellamy moving his family home to Wales and working full-time out of their FA headquarters and you think: Shouldn't WE be entitled to expect that commitment? Sure, there's an argument that with obvious candidates like David Moyes and Derek McInnes now off the market — though I'd love to know Darren Fletcher's thoughts on the job — changing bosses now would maybe be more hassle than it's worth. But that still shouldn't mean the man in possession being allowed to dictate his own terms. Listen, I want Scotland to win this final game of the season — and win it well. Come the qualifiers, I then want Steve Clarke to do what he did three years ago by going on a run that propels us to a major tournament. There's a harsh reality about tomorrow night in Vaduz, though. A truth that's as unavoidable as it is unpalatable. It's that back in 2022, most genuine fans still wanted Clarke to pull through and kick on. Whereas today, an awful lot really couldn't care either way. That's sad. But maybe it's what happens when it feels like you're taking what we all think is a privileged job for granted. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
GAA quiz: How closely have you been watching the championship this season?
From new rules, to shocks to last-minute winners, it has been a championship to remember so far. In one of the most open campaigns in recent memory, there has been plenty of standout moments, with the knockout stages yet to come. Advertisement Ahead of the final round of games in the All-Ireland football championship, test your knowledge to see what you can remember from the games this season. Take our quiz below and see how you get on.
