Surely its time for Casement Park to be made into a 50,000 all seater stadium. It would certainly boost GAA in the city plus would be a great venue for Ulster finals.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4643 - 29/10/2008 14:33:16    128863

And Leinster Finals too don't forget ;-)

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 29/10/2008 15:01:48    128897

no way, terrible venue

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 29/10/2008 15:02:59    128900

Would be in a great position re transport etc but unfortunately Belfast is not a GAA town.

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1071 - 29/10/2008 15:11:37    128918

Definitely be against this as was said before Belfast is not a GAA town and lacks any atmosphere on match days, it also isn't that safe. I heard proposals for a new stadium near ballygawley and i would be in favour of that although I don't see anything wrong with clones which is my favourite after Croke Park.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 29/10/2008 15:42:34    128968

I think that Belfast would definitely benefit from the new stadium. Casement is much better than Clones. Clones is in the middle of nowhere, you're sitting for hours on end trying to get out of it. If Casement was revamped it could be one of the best in Ireland, good ground good access I don't see the problem. So what if Belfast is not a GAA town, help change that. Many would argue the GAA has failed to bring gaelic games to most big cities.

Saffron (Antrim) - Posts: 216 - 29/10/2008 16:28:37    129028

Casement Park was only done up a few years ago? It is able to host big Ulster matches is it not. There are some fine stadiums in Omagh, Clones, Newry, Cavan, Enniskillen, Ballybofey and, soon to be, the Athletic grounds in Armagh. It does not really bother me too much what they do in Belfast (unlikely I will be attending Ulster matches soon), just seems like a waste of cash.

Are they not redeveloping some prison in Belfast into a big sports complex?? will that not do??

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 29/10/2008 16:44:25    129055

bennybunny
County: Cork
Posts: 431


Are they not redeveloping some prison in Belfast into a big sports complex?? will that not do??

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Careful bennybunny...if this is a wind up its not really that funny and if its not a wind up, i suggest you start reading the papers more regularly.

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 29/10/2008 16:48:57    129061

saffron....when was the last time antrim was in clones?

casement has all the ingredients of being good, but when cars arent safe, gate takings arent safe and the atmosphere reflects the cinema then its not goin to work.

Baker the glen (None) - Posts: 371 - 29/10/2008 16:55:16    129068

I hear that to about the pitch on the prison grounds i was sure that was going ahead

aughnamullen (Monaghan) - Posts: 55 - 29/10/2008 16:55:41    129069

Agree with Rio- lets park this one right here.

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 29/10/2008 16:56:11    129071

Saffron

Casement is no where near as good as Clones. Distance from my house to casement and my house to clones would be pretty similar. Would far rather be coming home from clones time wise. Clones has much better parking facilties only fields i know but they do the job. At Casement parking is very limited and if your lucky enough to get a space it is up in some dodgey housing estate. Clones seats about 20-25000, Casement about 4000. Give me clones anyday

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 29/10/2008 17:06:59    129089

Clones is due a big upgrade soon, I don't see two pitches gettings similar revamps in the one province. Obviously I'd say I prefer Clones as a venue, but I think the majority in Ulster will agree. Both have their downsides but Clones is the traditional home of Ulster finals and I hope it will stay that way.

mid-mon man (Monaghan) - Posts: 1680 - 29/10/2008 17:20:57    129105

Tom1916
County: Armagh
Posts: 178

128968
Definitely be against this as was said before Belfast is not a GAA town and lacks any atmosphere on match days, it also isn't that safe.


Ha,ha,ha,ha, ha. Not safe? Do you want an armed escort?

Seriously speaking, the Ulster finals in the 1960s at Casement were brilliant, packed stadium, great atmosphere. As for parking there are ample facilities, especially in the dodgy estate called Andersonstown, my birthplace.

The problem with Clones is one telephone, one "hole in the wall" which never works, and unless you are using unregistered backroads, one way in and out.

Mind you, if the rest of you big boys are frightened........

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 29/10/2008 17:42:06    129136

Rio Bingo
County: Tyrone
Posts: 247

129061 bennybunny
County: Cork
Posts: 431


Are they not redeveloping some prison in Belfast into a big sports complex?? will that not do??

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Careful bennybunny...if this is a wind up its not really that funny and if its not a wind up, i suggest you start reading the papers more regularly.



I assure you it is not a wind-up, and it certainly was not meant to cause offence-if it did then I apologize. I did not do any research for the post, I was just quoting something that I read in the paper before (I read the papers everyday). I just can not remember when. Anyway concerning the redevelopment of the Maze Prison, this quote was taken:

David Hanson, the Northern Ireland Office minister responsible for the Maze project, said all three sports that would use the stadium - rugby, football and GAA - were behind the proposal.

You are closer to the action than I am so I do not know how true that is.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 29/10/2008 17:58:02    129158

Patrique, there are two 'holes in the wall'. And who needs a phone box? Does everyone not have a mobile? I'm sure that supply of phone boxes is not high on the list of criteria for the location of a stadium.
Whilst i am obviously biased towards Clones, the only support for Casement seems to be coming from Antrim people.

And let's not use comparisons with Casement in the 1960s - very few used cars back then, so parking was not an issue.

Maguire01 (Monaghan) - Posts: 226 - 29/10/2008 18:30:55    129185

Agree Casement should be at the heart of Ulster football. And I think the reason Belfast isn't a GAA town is more because of Antrim's failure to do anything than any other reason

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 29/10/2008 19:23:06    129223

Could'nt agree more. Has been branded as one of the best pitches in Ireland and with the announcement of International Rules to be played in Ulster next year it would be the perfect place to showcase the improvement of Ulster over the past decade to the Irish and Australians

John_3__7 (Meath) - Posts: 546 - 29/10/2008 19:33:23    129236

As for Belfast not being a GAA town, I wonder. The potential is immense, and the current and past situation is good.

There are 22 clubs in Belfast, too many as it hinders the county's development. But hardly the sign of a GAA desert.

Three of those clubs, O'Donovan Rossa, St John's and St Gall's have appeared in all Ireland club finals.

St John's are the current U14 feile football champions.

St Mary's CBS have won the Hogan Cup, and St Malachy's have been beaten in the final.

St Mary's last year won the schools hurling in Ulster, and the b division (McLarnon Cup) football. They are the top hurling college, despite losing last Sunday's Ulster final.

So, all in all, I think describing Belfast as a non GAA town is based on a false premise.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 29/10/2008 19:39:51    129245

clones in gone downhill badly bout time they put money in to that instead of worrying there back pockets

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 29/10/2008 20:20:41    129271