Northern Ireland

Casement Park: GAA launches new community consultation

Tom Daly, Stephen McGeehan, Rory Miskelly and Ulster Council president Michael Hasson at the launch
Tom Daly, Stephen McGeehan, Rory Miskelly and Ulster Council president Michael Hasson at the launch Tom Daly, Stephen McGeehan, Rory Miskelly and Ulster Council president Michael Hasson at the launch

ULSTER GAA yesterday announced details of a fresh community consultation on plans to redevelop Casement Park in west Belfast.

The document, which the GAA described as a "robust engagement framework", was launched ahead of a new planning application for the provincial stadium.

Sinn Féin sports minister Caral Ní Chuilin welcomed the announcement as a "key component" of the redevelopment programme.

The process will include a "technical scoping exercise" and a 20-week community consultation period, with residents, businesses and sporting bodies encouraged to take part.

Speaking at the launch, Casement Park project board chairman Tom Daly said it would inform the design and build of a new stadium.

"We are still in the early stages, with the consultation and technical evaluations set to inform the stadium design at a later stage," he said.

"This will be a facility everyone in the local area, all of Belfast, Antrim and Ulster can be proud of."

Last week the new president of the GAA's Ulster Council, Michael Hasson, told The Irish News there is "not a lot of give" in previous plans for a 38,000-capacity ground.

However, the GAA has insisted the capacity is "not pre-determined".

A fresh planning application is expected in September, nearly two years after approval was overturned in the High Court following a legal challenge by residents.

They maintain that the site can only cater for up to 25,000 spectators.

A Stormont inquiry is also continuing over whether the original proposals properly considered emergency exiting arrangements.

Ms Ní Chuilín has faced criticism over her handling of the stalled GAA stadium project.

Earlier this month she walked out of a meeting of the Stormont inquiry without answering questions after questioning its fairness.

Yesterday the North Belfast MLA encouraged all stakeholders to take part in the consultation.

"Casement Park has the potential to make a lasting impact on the sporting, economic and social fabric of Belfast and much further beyond. It can be a stadium of which everyone can be proud," she said.