Ulster GAA wants urgent action on Casement Park stalemate

Ulster GAA officials want the Northern Ireland Executive members to urgently focus their attention on the stagnated Casement Park redevelopment.

Whilst reaffirming that the new arena would be built, Ulster GAA wants the delayed stadium regeneration discussed urgently after receiving clarification that no UK Government funding - or updates - will be forthcoming for the project until after their forthcoming election.

The UK will go to the polls on 4 July, leaving the provincial council in huge uncertainty until that point at the earliest.

At the launch of the 2024 All Ireland hurling series in Ennis earlier this week, GAA president Jarlath Burns admitted it now looked unlikely that Casement Park would host Euro 2028 championship games.

But in a statement, Ulster GAA bosses have called upon Northern Ireland Executive parties to breathe an urgent supply of oxygen into the project.

"The time is quickly approaching for the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to decide if they want to host the third largest sporting event in the world, in Belfast, in four years' time," the statement said.

"The recent comments of Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns, reflects the frustration and dismay regarding the delay in the development of Casement Park relating to both the procurement of a main contractor and the project’s funding package.

"Following our joint letter with the Irish FA, to the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak we have had confirmation that details of government funding will not be made available until after the UK Parliament elections on July 4th.

"To keep this global and transformational opportunity alive, we are now urgently calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to collectively discuss the opportunities that EURO 2028 will