Ulster GAA re-affirm Casement Park vision after funding blow

Ulster GAA has re-affirmed its commitment to building a 34,500 stadium at Casement Park in the wake of the British government's insistence that it was not in a position to make a financial contribution to the project.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster, secretary of state Hilary Benn said he was "not in a position at this stage to say the UK government would make a contribution."

However, he added "I think in the interests of respecting all of the sporting traditions in Northern Ireland, it is important that Casement Park is built."

In a statement released this afternoon, Ulster GAA welcomed Mr Benn's comments on the importance of the project and stressed that the cost of building a provincial stadium would be lower than that required to build a stadium in line with UEFA specifications.

'Ulster GAA's full focus is on the delivery of its approved plans for the 34,500 capacity provincial stadium at Casement Park, which will host Ulster finals and major GAA games," the statement read.

"The costs of Ulster GAA’s provincial stadium will be significantly lower than the costs required to build a stadium to UEFA specification. We recognise the pressures that there are within public finances, and we will continue to work with the Department for Communities and all partners to ensure our provincial stadium is delivered in an efficient way.

"We welcome the comments by the Secretary of State, yesterday, about the importance of Casement Park being built and we await his response to a request for an urgent meeting. We look forward to discussing the project plans with him and commitments given by him, and his predecessor, on the delivery of our provincial stadium.

"We once again call on the British