A senior official behind Ireland's Rugby World Cup bid has said they are "confident" a redeveloped Casement Park will be ready in time for the tournament in 2023.
A high-level delegation including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in London yesterday to make a final presentation to World Rugby chiefs.
Irish Rugby Football Union chief executive Philip Browne and former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll were also part of the team, but because of the absence of a Stormont executive Northern Ireland was represented by the head of the civil service, David Sterling.
The cross-border nature of the bid has been stressed, with the GAA's Casement Park in west Belfast and Celtic Park in Derry to be used as northern venues alongside Ulster Rugby's Kingspan Stadium at Ravenhill.
Work to redevelop Casement was due to begin two years ago, but in 2014 planning approval for the original 38,000-capacity design was overturned in a High Court challenge.
A revised planning application was submitted in February with a reduced spectator capacity of around 34,000.
Ulster GAA hopes to have the £77m project completed by 2019, but that depends on the new plans being approved and meeting any further legal challenge.
It is also unclear if the absence of a devolved minister will hold up the process, although civil servants recently gave the green light to plans for a controversial incinerator in Co Antrim.
Mr Browne was quizzed during Ireland's presentation to the World Cup committee about infrastructure including Casement.
"In terms of Casement Park stadium in Belfast, we are confident that it will be ready in time as it progresses through the stages of its re-development," he said.
Mr O'Driscoll, an ambassador for the bid, said: "This is a big as it gets. We're so proud of our country and will put our best foot forward. The GAA and soccer people will get behind this."
Mr Sterling said despite no northern political representatives being present, "all five parties in the north are united in wanting this event to happen".
"This is about sport not politics," he added.
Sean Kelly of the GAA's Antrim County Board said last night they shared Mr Browne's optimism about Casement.
"We are very hopeful to be completed on time and are confident of receiving good news by the end of this year so work can begin."
Residents said they are awaiting a decision on the planning application.
