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GAA to unveil new stadium design for Casement Park in west Belfast

The initial plans for the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast
The initial plans for the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast The initial plans for the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast

THE GAA is to next week unveil its proposed new stadium design for Casement Park.

It will be revealed on Monday as part of the second stage of a community consultation on plans to redevelop the west Belfast ground.

A series of public events will be held next week to discuss the proposals ahead of the GAA submitting a new planning application.

It comes nearly two years after approval for the original design was overturned after a High Court judge ruled it was unlawful.

The judge said the impact of bigger crowds at the stadium had not been properly examined.

For years plans to redevelop Casement have been hit with problems and delays.

Funding for the £77m project is mostly coming from public finances, with around £6m already spent even though construction work has not yet started.

The GAA hopes to start building the new stadium next year and be finished by the end of 2019.

The latest events will provide details of the new design as well as the outcome of an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Public events will be held from 1pm to 8pm at Conway Mill in Belfast on Monday of next week, Lagan Valley Island Centre on Tuesday, Glenn Community Complex on Wednesday, and Andersonstown Leisure Centre on Thursday.

A drop-in office will be created near Casement Park to allow for further consultation.

Rory Miskelly, Casement Park project director, said the new design incorporates feedback received during the first stage of the consultation.

"We are delighted to be able to unveil the new design for Casement Park in the coming days," he said.

"We will engage with the public to hear their views and discuss the vision we have for a stadium that will inspire participation in sport, support economic prosperity and advance cultural and arts opportunities."

Tom Daly, chairman of the Casement Park project board, thanked those who took part in the first stage of the consultation and urged people to continue to get involved.

"It is important that everyone has their voice heard on a project that people throughout west Belfast, Co Antrim, Ulster and Ireland will be immensely proud of and a stadium that the next generation of young people can aspire to play in," he said.