€50m government contribution towards Casement Park will enable 'collective' hosting of Euro 2028 - Tánaiste Micheál Martin

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin believes that the €50m (£42.8) contribution from the Irish government for the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast is warranted as the venue will host games for Euro 2028.

Casement Park, derelict since 2013, is set to become the biggest GAA stadium in Ulster but it is also listed as one of 10 host venues - as is the Aviva Stadium in Dublin - for the 2028 edition of the European Football Championship, which will be played in the UK and Ireland.

Doubts had been expressed about whether the ground could be ready in time but, in the wake of the return of the Stormont executive, clearance work on the site began on Monday, followed by the announcement of the Irish government's funding through the Shared Island initiative yesterday.

A redeveloped Casement is now projected to open by summer 2027, though not in time for that year's Ulster football final.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio1's Morning Ireland, Martin said: "We all collectively want to host the Euros in 2028. It's a shared objective between the UK, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and in terms of what would be a wonderful tournament.

"And it would be a terrible shame if Belfast was not in the position to host matches in that tournament. That's the context.

"In my discussions with [Northern Ireland Secretary] Chris Heaton-Harris, I think we always made it clear that we were there to support Casement Park. I don't see really, that it should be an issue of contention."

An opinion poll last year found a majority (54%) in Northern Ireland are in favour of the venue hosting Euro 2028 fixtures but 60% of those identifying as unionist said they would prefer there were no Euros games in the six counties if they had