Casement Park

Casement Park
Páirc Mhic Asmaint
Casement Park in 2007
Casement Park is located in Greater Belfast
Casement Park
Casement Park
Location within Greater Belfast
Full nameRoger Casement Park
Address88–104 Andersonstown Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT11 9AN
LocationNorthern Ireland
Coordinates54°34′24″N 5°59′2″W / 54.57333°N 5.98389°W / 54.57333; -5.98389
Public transitBalmoral railway station
OwnerAntrim GAA
Capacityc. 31,500[1]
Field size145 x 90 m
Construction
Opened1953[2]
Renovated2000
ClosedJune 2013[3]
Website
https://www.casementpark.ie/

Casement Park (Irish: Páirc Mhic Asmaint)[4][5] is the principal Gaelic games stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is located in Andersonstown Road in the west of the city, and is named after the Irish revolutionary Roger Casement.

The stadium, which has been closed since June 2013,[3] previously had a capacity of approximately 31,500.[1] While previously serving as the home ground of the Antrim hurling and Gaelic football teams, it was in a state of dereliction by 2021, with redevelopment plans pending for several years.[6] Though planning permission for the redevelopment of Casement Park was confirmed in July 2021,[7] by March 2023, it remained closed.[8]

A combined bid to host UEFA Euro 2028, by the Republic of Ireland and England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, included a proposal to redevelop the stadium.[4] While, by March 2024, some demolition work had commenced,[9] as of September 2024 it was reported that the redevelopment would not be funded or completed in time for the 2028 competition, which caused the stadium to be removed from hosting duties.[10]

  1. ^ a b Southern, Carl (2 July 2015). "Inquiry into Issues around Emergency Exiting Plans, including their Impact on Stadium Capacity, for the Redeveloped Casement Park Stadium: Mr Ciarán McGurk and Mr Carl Southern" (PDF). Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure. Northern Ireland Assembly. p. 12. Retrieved 16 September 2018. Additionally, the OBC was informed by the multi-agency review of April 2009 that further informed the safety certificate revisions in 2010. That was in the context of the existing ground and a current safety certificate for circa 31,000 — there was a slight adjustment from 32,000 down to approximately 31,500 at that time; "AQW 1178/11". AIMS Portal. Northern Ireland Assembly. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  2. ^ Casement Park Redevelopment - Phase 2 - Project Information Booklet (PDF). casement.ie (Report). 2016. p. 3. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Walker, Michael (20 November 2023). "Casement Park – Euro 2028's derelict stadium caught in a storm of politics and protests". The Athletic. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Ulster GAA chief: Casement Park can be a unifying symbol of sport". Irish Examiner. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ "GAA MC's Handbook" (PDF). gaa.ie (in Irish). Coiste Náisiúnta Gaeilge CLG 2021-2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Drone footage of abandoned Casement Park is an embarrassment to the GAA". Sports Joe. Sports Joe. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Confirmation of planning permission a 'momentous' milestone for Casement Park redevelopment project". the42. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Jarlath Burns: GAA must not raise Casement Park contribution". rte.ie. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Diggers move in to Casement Park as O'Neill says Euros is 'huge opportunity'". thejournal.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  10. ^ "UK govt will not fund Casement Park redevelopment in time for Euro 2028". rte.ie. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.