Casement Park

Casement Park, one of the largest stadiums in Northern Ireland, was built in the years following World War II, with the main stand reportedly incorporating steel reclaimed from disused military aircraft hangars in County Fermanagh.{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/northern-ireland/67056689 | work = BBC Sport | first = Mark | last = Simpson | title = Casement Park: Euro 2028 stadium project has political as well as sporting significance | date = 10 October 2023 | accessdate = 10 October 2023 }}

It was named after Roger Casement, an Irish revolutionary who was executed in 1916 for his role in the Easter Rising.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/08/02/news/wreath-laid-at-casement-park-to-honour-easter-rising-leader-2405717/ | website = irishnews.com | title = Wreath laid at Casement Park to honour Easter Rising leader | date = 2 August 2021 | accessdate = 10 October 2023}}

The ground opened in June 1953, with Armagh Harps defeating St John’s of Antrim in the final of the inaugural Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.{{cite news |title=If you don't like the football, there's always Celtic under the stand! |work=Gaelic Life |date=16 May 2008 }} The newly opened Casement Park hosted the Ulster Championship final less than a month later, which saw Armagh overcome reigning All-Ireland champions Cavan.

The ground's location in a republican neighbourhood saw incidents during the Troubles which contributed to unionist perception of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) as pro-republican. Rallies against the introduction of internment were held on 12 September 1971{{cite journal |title=The Past Two Weeks |jstor=25543703 |journal=Fortnight |date=1971 |issue=24 |page=16}} and 19 March 1972.{{cite journal |title=The Past Three Weeks |jstor=25544024 |journal=Fortnight |date=1972 |issue=37 |pages=11–14}} The ground was occupied by the British Army from Operation Motorman on 31 July 1972{{cite book |last1=Beaves |first1=Harry |title=Down Among the Weeds |date=2018 |publisher=Troubador |isbn=9781788037532 |page=73 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bn5IDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA73 |language=en}} until October 1973.{{cite journal |title=The Past Two Weeks |journal=Fortnight |date=1973 |issue=69 |pages=14–15 : 15 |jstor=25544715 }} Provisional IRA members displayed weapons at a rally there in August 1979.{{cite book |last1=Coogan |first1=Tim Pat |title=The IRA |date=2002 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9780312294168 |page=444 |url=https://archive.org/details/onblanketinsides00timp |url-access=registration |access-date=16 September 2018 |language=en}} In March 1988, two Army corporals who drove into a republican funeral cortège were beaten in Casement Park before being killed on nearby waste ground.{{cite web |title=Army corporals killed at IRA funeral |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/army_corporals_killed_at_ira_funeral |website=History - Troubles |publisher=BBC |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130313215501/https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/army_corporals_killed_at_ira_funeral | archivedate = 13 March 2013 }} Anniversaries of the 1981 hunger strike were marked by rallies at the stadium in 2001 and 2006, against the wishes of the GAA Central Council.{{cite book |last1=Mendlowitz |first1=Andy |title=Ireland's Professional Amateurs: A Sports Season at Its Purest |date=2007 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=9780595899869 |page=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UcSf2l2kF3IC&pg=PA105 |access-date=16 September 2018 |language=en}}; {{cite news |newspaper=The Irish News |date=10 September 2001 |title=Mystery over 'GAA fine' for hunger strike rally at Casement}}, cited in {{cite web |title=Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland |page=9: §5 "Media reports relating to sectarianism and sport" |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/sport/docs/rlsnia101001.pdf#page=12 |website=Research Paper 26/01 |publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly |access-date=16 September 2018 |date=10 October 2001}}

In all, Casement Park has hosted eight Ulster football finals. However, the Antrim ground has not held the provincial final since 1971, with St. Tiernach's Park in Clones hosting the final every year since except between 2004 and 2006 when it was moved to Croke Park, such was the demand for tickets. A major facelift of the stadium in 2000 saw more championship games played at Casement Park. Floodlights were added in 2006.{{cite web|url = https://www.hoganstand.com/county/antrim/article/index/116821| website = hoganstand.com | title = New control room unveiled at Casement Park | date = 15 August 2009 | accessdate = 10 October 2023 }}

The stadium hosted a match for the last time on 10 June 2013, which was the 2013 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Antrim and Monaghan.{{cite news |last1=McKeon |first1=Conor |title=Casement Park verdict a vindication for GAA but funding will be the rebuild’s next big hurdle |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/casement-park-verdict-a-vindication-for-gaa-but-funding-will-be-the-rebuilds-next-big-hurdle/41708419.html |access-date=20 November 2023 |work=Irish Independent |date=1 June 2022}}

In November 2016, Casement Park was included as part of the Irish Rugby Football Union's, ultimately unsuccessful, bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The stadium was also included in Northern Ireland's joint UEFA Euro 2028 bid.{{cite web|url = https://www.breakingnews.ie/soccer/ireland-and-uk-set-to-be-named-as-co-hosts-of-euro-2028-1277589.html | publisher = Irish Times DAC | website = breakingnews.ie | title = Ireland and UK set to be named as co-hosts of Euro 2028 | date = 22 March 2022 | accessdate = 22 March 2022 }}

In 2006, proposals were raised to build a new multi-purpose stadium on the site of the old Maze prison near Lisburn, which was intended to host association football, rugby union and Gaelic games. However, opposition to the idea led to it being dropped in favour of a new venue in the Sydenham area of East Belfast. This led to Ulster GAA, which was one of the partners in the Maze project, to pull out in favour of remaining at Casement Park.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/plans-for-pound128m-belfast-stadium-unveiled-1653849.html Plans for £128m Belfast stadium unveiled] - The Independent, 25 March 2009

Plans to redevelop Casement Park were announced in 2009, though it was not until 2011 that the Northern Ireland Executive announced that it had granted £138m for various stadium redevelopment projects throughout Northern Ireland, of which Ulster GAA would receive £61.4m to be used to redevelop Casement Park into a 40,000 all-seated stadium. A further £15 million was proposed from the Central Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association. If the plans had been approved, the venue would become the largest stadium in Ulster.[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/stadiums-fit-for-our-heroes-on-way-at-last-15110370.html Stadiums fit for our heroes on way at last] - Belfast Telegraph, 11 March 2011 In early 2012 it was announced that the redevelopment work would start at the end of 2013 with a view to having the new stadium open by September 2015. It was expected that, after its completion, Ulster GAA would move its headquarters from St Tiernach's Park in Clones to the redeveloped Casement Park.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/17074137 Ulster Council rubber-stamps Casement Park stadium move] - BBC News, 17 February 2012{{cite news |first=Marie Louise|last=McCrory |title=Dream team for stadium redesign |work=The Irish News |date=4 September 2012 }}

Local residents of West Belfast objected to the proposal and in September 2013 the Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association (MORA) issued a formal petition and letter of objection to the Northern Ireland Department of Environment, describing the new stadium plans "a monstrosity" and too expansive.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-24063556|title=Residents challenge GAA's Casement Park redevelopment|work=BBC News|date=12 September 2013}} The residents filed a lawsuit as the date for the commencement of construction continued to be delayed. In December 2014 the High Court ruled a ministerial decision granting planning approval for the redevelopment of the stadium was unlawful, setting the proposal back further.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-30526779|title=Casement Park: Judge quashes GAA stadium approval decision|work=BBC News|date=18 December 2014}} Ulster GAA responded with disappointment to the decision, though vowed to re-submit an improved design. They did so in October 2016, unveiling a smaller scale project with a reduced capacity of 34,500.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-37751753|title=Casement Park: GAA unveils fresh plan for west Belfast stadium|work=BBC News|date=24 October 2016}} This design didn't obtain planning approval, as Northern Ireland's power-sharing government was dissolved in March 2017. This delay saw the anticipated total cost of the project increase to approximately £110 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0308/1035231-ulster-gaa-committed-to-l110m-casement-park-upgrade/|title=Ulster GAA committed to '£110m' Casement Park upgrade|work=RTE News|date=8 March 2019}}

Antrim's 14 point "home" loss to Tyrone in the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final in Armagh highlighted the run-down status of the Casement Park pitch and grandstands.{{cite news|first=PJ|last=Browne|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/mickey-harte-casement-park-antrim-411223|title=Mickey Harte Gets It Spot On About Plight Of Antrim GAA|date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527000505/https://www.balls.ie/gaa/mickey-harte-casement-park-antrim-411223|archive-date=27 May 2019}} The GAA stated it was hopeful of receiving planning permission for the redevelopment in mid-Spring 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51122749|title=Casement Park: GAA hopes for planning permission in spring|work=BBC News|date=15 January 2020}} This eventually came in October 2020 when Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon recommended planning approval.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/casement-park-planning-approval-nichola-mallon-5231681-Oct2020/|title =Decision to recommend planning approval for 34,000-seater stadium at Casement Park announced|date= 13 October 2020|work=The 42|access-date=14 October 2020}} As of 2020, the stadium was speculated to open in summer 2023, while the project still faced funding uncertainties.{{Cite news|date=2020-10-19|title=Casement Park: What is the future for Belfast's GAA home?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54576963|access-date=2020-10-19}}

In July 2021, planning permission for the redevelopment of Casement Park was confirmed. At that time, the redevelopment project (including a proposed capacity of 34,578) was set to commence in the first half of 2022 and expected to be a two-year build. However, the planning approval was subject to a High Court review,{{cite web|url = https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2022/03/22/news/minister-who-approved-casement-park-redevelopment-to-face-judicial-scrutiny-for-not-seeking-wider-executive-consent-2620604/ | publisher = Irish News | website = irishnews.com | title = Nichola Mallon's Casement Park green light to face judicial scrutiny | date = 22 March 2022 | accessdate = 22 March 2022 }} and in May 2022 an appeal against the stadium's redevelopment was rejected by the court, with work then projected to begin at an unspecified date in 2023 for "complet[ion] in 2025".{{Cite news|date=2022-05-31|title=Casement Park: West Belfast residents group lose stadium appeal|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61636267|access-date=2022-05-31}}

In November 2023, after the previous contractor went into administration, the GAA stated that it was seeking a new primary contractor for the redevelopment project.{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68145828 | publisher = BBC Sport | website = bbc.com | title = Casement Park: Irish FA 'confident' redevelopment project is on track for Euro 2028 | date = 30 January 2024 | accessdate = 31 January 2024 }} At that time, the architecture firm which had previously been engaged, Populous, was reportedly "still involved".{{cite web|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/casement-park-work-being-carried-out-not-linked-to-new-stadium/a1700051896.html | website = belfasttelegraph.co.uk | title = Casement Park: Work being carried out not linked to new stadium | date = 31 October 2023 | accessdate = 27 March 2024 | quote = [As of late 2023] Architecture firm Populous, which specialises in stadiums and worked on designs for the rebuild, is still involved }} The GAA and Irish Football Association (IFA) both suggested that the selection of a new contractor would "not jeopardise" the deadline for the project.

File:Proposed Casement Park.jpg

{{see also|UEFA Euro 2028#Venues}}

In March 2023 the GAA announced that, if redeveloped as proposed under the July 2021 proposal, it would give special permission (under Rule 42) for Casement Park to be included in a joint UK and Ireland bid to host the UEFA Euro 2028 Championship.{{Cite web |last=Lawlor |first=Damian |date=2023-03-26 |title=GAA stadia approved by body for Euro 2028 | url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/0326/1366443-gaa-stadium-approved-by-body-for-euro-2028/ |language=en}} The bid, which was chosen in October 2023, proposed that Casement Park would be the sole host stadium in Northern Ireland.

In February 2024, clearance work began at the start of the redevelopment project.{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2024/0219/1433164-casement-park/|title=Casement Park clearance work ahead of major redevelopment for Euro 2028|date=19 February 2024|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=20 February 2024}} This included some demolition work on the stadium's former concrete terracing in March 2024.

The inclusion of Casement Park instead of Windsor Park as the Northern Irish venue led to Unionist protests, due to Casement Park being a hurling and Gaelic football stadium, traditional nationalist sports. Northern Ireland's national football stadium, Windsor Park, however, does not have a capacity large enough to comply with UEFA rules for hosting European Championship matches, which led to the selection of Casement Park. Windsor Park is located in a majority unionist area (with football being a traditional unionist sport), whereas Casement Park is located in a majority nationalist area and named for a revolutionary involved in the Easter Rising. Protests had been held regarding the inclusion of Casement Park with the theme being that the protestors did not want to attend games at the venue, due to its history and location.{{cite web | url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/1016/1411205-oneil-urges-ni-fans-to-get-behind-casement-park-plans/ | title=O'Neill urges NI fans to get behind Casement Park plans | website=RTÉ.ie | date=16 October 2023 }}{{Cite news |date=2023-10-05 |title=Casement Park delays could leave us with no stadium for Euros, warns Campbell |language=en-GB |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/casement-park-delays-could-leave-us-with-no-stadium-for-euros-warns-campbell/a1029430175.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news |title=Will controversial Casement Park be ready for Euro 2028? |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66992640 |access-date=2023-11-09}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title='We have to get our heads around' NI at Casement |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67007435 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}

Casement Park's inclusion in the bid was subject to redevelopment work being completed. Such work was being funded by the Northern Irish Devolved Government and the Gaelic Athletic Association, however it was hope that the UK government would also contribute following a successful bid.

It was reported on 13 June 2024 that detail of UK government funding for the stadium would not be published until after the UK general election on 4 July 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-12 |title=Casement Park, Belfast: No funding plan until after election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4nn83nleeno |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} On 16 June 2024, Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that Casement Park would be built "on [her] watch".{{Cite web |date=2024-06-16 |title=Michelle O'Neill tells unity rally that Casement Park will be built on her watch |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/oneill-tells-unity-rally-that-casement-park-will-be-built-on-her-watch-P5AOOV6U5FH2DNQDK3DGQB36IU/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}

On 13 September 2024, the British Government announced it would not contribute to the redevelopment of Casement Park, with the redevelopment being delayed and budget increased to £400 million (from the originally proposed £77.5 million),{{Cite web |date=2024-03-01 |title=Casement Park: Redevelopment could cost more than £300m |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68453029.amp |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}} putting hopes of Northern Ireland hosting any matches at the tournament in jeopardy.{{Cite news |last=Simpson |first=Mark| title=Government will not fund Casement for Euro 2028 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News NI |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7899k921ko |date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024}} On 16 September 2024, Casement Park was dropped as a host venue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cdrjjpyrzneo.amp|title=Casement Park: IFA disappointed but accepts decision - CEO Patrick Nelson|date=16 September 2024|website=BBC Sport}}

Following the withdrawal as a Euro Championship host stadium, the predicted redevelopment costs dropped to £270 million, as the stadium no longer needed to comply with UEFA regulations.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Casement Park: GAA 'happy' to look at paying more as costs fall |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qd20vzp3vo.amp |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}

• List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums
• List of stadiums in Ireland by capacity
• Match for Michaela

{{reflist}}

{{Gaelic games venues}}

{{Antrim GAA}}

Category:Antrim GAA

Category:Gaelic games grounds in Northern Ireland

Category:Sports venues completed in 1953

Category:Sports venues in Belfast