Debate contribution: Casement Park: Non-GAA Events

Debate contribution by Mr Justin McNulty on 17 February 2026.

MLA

Mr Justin McNulty

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

17 February 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Casement Park: Non-GAA Events

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5394557

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I rise to speak about the powerful and positive impact that the redevelopment of the home of Antrim GAA — Casement Park — will have on the island as a symbol of hope and ambition, a beacon for sporting dreams and endeavour and a gateway point to Ireland's second-largest city. The benefits arising from a newly built world-class stadium at Casement Park in the heart of west Belfast will be immense. From a health and sporting perspective, thousands upon thousands of players will have a new stadium in which challenge themselves physically and mentally on the field of play. Players immersed in the grind, the commitment and the teamwork will build lifelong friendships while playing games of huge sporting and cultural significance on this island. From a social, community and economic standpoint, the completion of a 34,000-capacity stadium will stimulate significant positive economic multiplier effects, creating construction jobs, generating seat revenue, potentially providing a huge local economic uplift and attracting sports fans and tourists to the North. Casement Park is more than just a stadium; it has the potential to become a hotbed for Gaelic games in the heart of west Belfast. It can become the beating heart of the GAA in Ulster. For too long, Casement Park has remained dormant and abandoned, causing the North to miss out on hosting major global sporting events and leading to an entire generation of hurlers, footballers, camogie players and ladies' Gaelic footballers missing out on the opportunity to play on Casement's hallowed turf. Delays to Casement are dreams denied. Ladies' Gaelic footballers dream of playing against Dublin; ladies' camogie players dream of playing against Cork; Antrim footballers dream of taking on Armagh; and hurlers dream of taking on Limerick on Casement's turf. That would be very special. So many young people dream of that possibility, but it is being denied because of delays. Casement Park has the potential to be a huge source of community and social cohesion and pride. However, rather than honour that potential, the motion attempts to attack Casement Park before it is even built. The GAA has demonstrated demand for a 34,000-capacity stadium at Casement Park. I wonder whether Mr Gaston has consulted the chief executive of the Irish Football Association (IFA) and the chief executive of Ulster Rugby about his proposal. Are they on board with the proposal as it relates to Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park and the Kingspan Stadium at Ravenhill?

I will not give way to Timmy, because he has made his anti-GAA diatribe enough. The motion is anti-GAA, but, more fundamentally, it is a distraction from the real crux of the matter: when will Casement Park be built? On 2 July 2025, I asked the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to detail any communications relating to Casement Park. That question from seven months ago was answered only this morning. A coincidence? I wonder. On 21 January, I asked the First Ministers a question for written answer about when construction was due to be completed, given the commencement of enabling works. That question was due to be answered on 26 January. Will it be answered six months later, possibly in July, as was the case with the previous question? When will Casement Park be built? I say to the Executive that it is time to see cranes over Casement, not mere enabling works. The focus of the Assembly must be to hold the Executive to account on their flagship projects and on completing Casement Park. Building the stadium will bring joy to sports fans, as well as economic, health, community and social benefits to the North, and will generate massive sporting and national pride on the island. Let us get Casement Park built.

623 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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