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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
UK Government's Casement Park boost hailed as ‘milestone' by GAA
THE DECISION of the UK Government to contribute €59million to the redevelopment of Casement Park has been described as 'a milestone' by the GAA. Amid a row over funding, uncertainty surrounded the future of the west Belfast venue since it lost its 2 Pacemaker Press 04-09-2024: Casement Park principal Gaelic games stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. 2 GAA President Jarlath Burns welcomed the decision by the UK government - but more funds are still needed But the latest commitment from Westminster is a considerable boost as €140m has already been pledged by the GAA, the Stormont Executive and the Irish Government. 'We thank the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, the Chancellor of The Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, and the UK Government for their positive and generous contribution to ensure our provincial stadium at Casement Park is finally realised. 'From taking office, the Secretary of State was clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered. read more on gaa 'He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society. 'His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme and helping to leave a lasting legacy for all of society.' But with the Casement Park project set to cost approximately €305m, a shortfall of over €100m must still be met. Burns added: 'We know, however, that this is not the final piece of the jigsaw. Most read in GAA Football 'There is much more work to do.' GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Post
GAA welcomes British Government's £50m allocation towards Casement Park redevelopment
THE GAA has welcomed the news that the British Government will contribute £50m towards the redevelopment of Belfast's Casement Park. The funding was announced today in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review as part of £2.2bn in targeted funding to devolved governments. It is believed around £90m more is needed to meet the estimated £260m cost of the project. However, Ulster GAA President Michael Geoghegan welcomed today's news, saying 'there is now growing momentum and belief that Antrim's home and Ulster's provincial stadium is a step closer'. 'Critical opportunity' It was hoped that Casement, which last hosted a game in 2013, would be redeveloped into a 34,500-capacity stadium in time to host matches at Euro 2028. However, after little movement on the project, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn said in September that it would not be appropriate to provide funding to have Casement ready in time for the tournament. Today's announcement has renewed momentum for the project but the GAA added that 'there is much more work to do'. "We welcome this important and significant investment and we thank the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, the Chancellor of The Exchequer, Rachel Reeves and the UK Government for their positive and generous contribution to ensure that our provincial stadium at Casement Park is finally realised," said GAA President Jarlath Burns. "From taking office, the Secretary of State has been clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered. "He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society, dating back to the Maze Long Kesh project, and more recently offering Casement Park as a Euro 2028 Championship venue. "His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme, and helping to leave a lasting legacy not only for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster, but for all of society. "We know, however, that this is not the final piece of jigsaw and there is much more work to do. "The GAA will engage directly with the NI Executive and the Department for Communities to ensure that all parties actively pursue, and secure, a full funding package that will deliver upon the GAA's strategic stadium need." 'Historic venue' As well as today's funding allocation, it is believed Stormont will contribute more than £60, the GAA will pay £15m and the Irish Government will provide around £43m. However, with around £90m more required, Tánaiste Simon Harris said today that he would raise the matter with the other parties involved. "I welcome the British government's announcement today of £50m for Casement Park, as part of the UK Spending Review," he said. "The Irish Government has long supported the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast as a landmark sports infrastructure project. "In February 2024, we made an early commitment from the Shared Island initiative of up to €50m for the redevelopment of Casement. "We underlined our commitment at that time to support the GAA in progressing this project in partnership with the UK and NI authorities. "I will now engage with all these partners to deliver a redeveloped stadium. "The last match hosted in Casement was well over a decade ago and it is past time for the redevelopment of this historic venue to get underway." Two months ago, a protest over the delay in the project was held before Antrim's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Armagh, which had to be held at Belfast's Corrigan Park, which has a capacity of less than 4,000.. See More: Casement Park, GAA, Hilary Benn, Jarlath Burns, Rachel Reeves
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Government's £50m Casement Park pledge a 'crucial milestone'
GAA president Jarlath Burns has welcomed the government's "important and significant" contribution for the redevelopment of Casement Park, but added it is not the "final piece of the jigsaw". A £50m commitment for the west Belfast stadium project was confirmed as part of chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review on Wednesday. Rebuilding the stadium, which has been derelict since 2013, will cost approximately £260m, of which £120m was already in place from the Stormont Executive (£62.5m), the Irish government (about £43m) and the GAA (£15m). That still leaves a shortfall of around £90m, although the GAA previously acknowledged it will need to increase its commitment. In its statement, the GAA said Wednesday's announcement was a "crucial milestone that will be a key catalyst" in redeveloping the stadium. "From taking office, the secretary of state (Hilary Benn) has been clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered," said Burns. "He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society, dating back to the Maze Long Kesh project, and more recently offering Casement Park as a Euro 2028 Championship venue. "His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme, and helping to leave a lasting legacy not only for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster, but for all of society." Burns added: "We know, however, that this is not the final piece of [the] jigsaw and there is much more work to do. The GAA will engage directly, with the NI Executive and the Department for Communities to ensure that all parties actively pursue, and secure, a full funding package that will deliver upon the GAA's strategic stadium need." Ulster GAA president Michael Geoghegan said: "With this announcement there is now growing momentum and belief that Antrim's home and Ulster's provincial stadium is a step closer. "We look forward to the project getting started and hosting some of the largest, most exciting and significant games on the island of Ireland while also significantly adding to economic recovery and regeneration in Belfast and beyond." Casement Park: All you need to know about the stadium soap opera
The 42
2 days ago
- Business
- The 42
UK government pledges £50 million for Casement Park redevelopment
THE UK GOVERNMENT has allocated £50 million to support the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast. The money was included in the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' spending review, which outlines the Government's spending plans over the coming years. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it is now time to get the GAA stadium built. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap of around £150 million. Advertisement The Government announcement includes £50 million to support the stadium being developed over four years. In a statement, a spokesperson for the GAA said that the British government's support was a recognition of the long-standing commitments given to redevelop Casement Park. The GAA had offered the stadium to be used for the Euro 2028 Championships but the long-running row over who would pay for it dashed Northern Ireland's hosting hopes. GAA President Jarlath Burns described the new funding as 'generous' and that it shows Secretary of State Hilary Benn's recognition of the GAA's 'commitment and goodwill' in sharing venues 'for the benefit of everyone in our society'. 'His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme, and helping to leave a lasting legacy not only for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster, but for all of society,' said Burns. 'We know, however, that this is not the final piece of jigsaw and there is much more work to do. The GAA will engage directly, with the NI Executive and the Department for Communities to ensure that all parties actively pursue, and secure, a full funding package that will deliver upon the GAA's strategic stadium need.' Michael Geoghegan, President of Ulster GAA added: 'For too long GAA members, players and supporters have been left behind with frustrations growing on commitments given but not delivered. With this announcement there is now growing momentum and belief that Antrim's home and Ulster's provincial stadium is a step closer. 'We look forward to the project getting started and hosting some of the largest, most exciting and significant games on the island of Ireland while also significantly adding to economic recovery and regeneration in Belfast and beyond.' Written by Press Association and posted on
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
UK government to provide £50m towards Casement Park redevelopment
The United Kingdom government has announced that they have allocated £50 million towards the redevelopment of Casement Park. The reconstruction of the 34,500 capacity stadium - home to Antrim GAA - in west Belfast is expected to cost almost £270 million having been left derelict for almost a decade. The GAA, which has 250,000 members in Ulster has said that, following the Irish Government's partnership funding, the contribution of the UK Government is "a crucial milestone that will be a key catalyst in the final delivery of its provincial stadium." But while the funds will help finalise the redevelopment project, the completion date won't come in time for the venue to host matches at Euro 2028. 'We welcome this important and significant investment and we thank the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, the Chancellor of The Exchequer, Rachel Reeves and the UK Government for their positive and generous contribution to ensure that our provincial stadium at Casement Park is finally realised," said GAA President Jarlath Burns. 'From taking office, the Secretary of State has been clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered. He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society, dating back to the Maze Long Kesh project, and more recently offering Casement Park as a EURO 2028 Championship venue. "His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme, and helping to leave a lasting legacy not only for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster, but for all of society. 'We know, however, that this is not the final piece of jigsaw and there is much more work to do. The GAA will engage directly, with the NI Executive and the Department for Communities to ensure that all parties actively pursue, and secure, a full funding package that will deliver upon the GAA's strategic stadium need.' Michael Geoghegan, President of Ulster GAA added; 'This is a very important announcement, and we would like to thank the Secretary of State and the UK Government for their support. "For too long GAA members, players and supporters have been left behind with frustrations growing on commitments given but not delivered. With this announcement there is now growing momentum and belief that Antrim's home and Ulster's provincial stadium is a step closer. 'We look forward to the project getting started and hosting some of the largest, most exciting and significant games on the island of Ireland while also significantly adding to economic recovery and regeneration in Belfast and beyond.'
