The Irish government and Sinn Fein joined forces to express their deep disappointment at the UK government’s failure to provide finance to build Casement Park ahead of the Euro 2028 soccer championships.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and SF leader Mary Lou McDonald and Northern First Minister Michelle O’Neill together with the President of the GAA spoke of the “lost opportunity” that games will not now be played as was proposed at the redeveloped stadium.
Mr. Harris said the €50m pledged by Dublin will be honored while he hoped to meet the GAA later this week to see what course of action could now be undertaken. “It is essential that the positive effects of Ireland and the UK co-hosting Euro 2028 is felt in all parts of these islands,” he stressed.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill claimed the North would miss out on “a unique opportunity to create jobs, boost tourism, and showcase our island’s sporting talent on the global stage.”
GAA President Jarlath Burns was unhappy at the way the bad news was dumped at 7 p.m. on a Friday night - emphasizing that this was no way to do business.
He was also critical of the UK claim that costs for the project had risen dramatically from £180m to more than £400m, claiming such amounts were totally at odds with the GAA’s set of figures.
“Ulster GAA has been working very closely with a consultancy team of experts in stadia for the last ten years. They were coming in at a completely different set of figures. It’s very commercially sensitive. We hope to go out to tender again, but they were around £100m less that what we’re hearing now,” he told the BBC.
“Those consultants spent three weeks in Northern Ireland and benchmarked the cost of a GAA stadium against Premier League stadia, fully seated, segregated, all the specifications required. GAA stadia are much more modest affairs. I felt it was unfair to come out with that figure of £400m. It certainly wasn’t the figure we have from our experts.”
The President went on to explain how Casement Park came into the mix in the first place.
“We were approached last year to see if we were willing to allow Casement to be used as one of the stadia for Euro 2028. We were excited about it. The IFA [Irish Football Association] were excited about it. It was a wonderful opportunity for us in Northern Ireland to come together on a major project to see if we could do this. Unfortunately we have failed.”
What was most perplexing about the manner of the Labour Government’s decision was the fact that once appointed after the General Election, Secretary of State Hilary Benn, on behalf of the British Government, gave firm commitments that Casement Park would be built.
The GAA said they would now seek a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss his previous “firm commitments” and see what had happened in the interim.
The GAA, meanwhile, pledged to “continue working towards the delivery of the new Casement Park, which will host Gaelic Games at all levels, and be “a community hub for West Belfast”.
“We would like to thank Gaels throughout Antrim, Ulster and Ireland for their patience, commitment and unwavering support for the project over many years,” the statement said.
“If we look at the contribution the GAA makes to Irish society and to society in Northern Ireland we are definitely deserving of government money.
“I spoke to Michelle O’Neill on Sunday and she is adamant that Casement Park will be built, that the money will be found.
“As for the British Government, we are still waiting. Hilary Benn has said they will make a substantial commitment to Casement. All we are asking now is how much? That decision is in the hands of other people,” he declared.
The derelict ground had been chosen to host five matches during Euro 2028, which is being jointly hosted by Ireland and the UK. The stadium has been closed for over 11 years now and has fallen into disrepair in the intervening period.
