Antrim senior football captain Peter Healy has welcomed the news that the long-waited redevelopment of Casement Park can proceed.
Yesterday, a High Court judge dismissed a challenge mounted to former Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon’s decision to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the West Belfast GAA stadium.
Judicial review proceedings were issued by the Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association (MORA) after Mrs Mallon announced her approval in July last year for a new £110m, 34,000-capacity stadium.
Read more: Legal challenge against 34,000 seat GAA stadium at Casement Park rejected
While there remains uncertainty regarding a shortfall in funding for the project, Healy remains hopeful that he’ll get to feature for Antrim in the new Casement Park.
“It is great news and, hopefully, it can finally proceed,” said Healy.
“It has been eight or nine years in the works now. I was lucky enough to play a few times there in U12 and U16 finals.
“Hopefully, they can get it built as soon as possible. I’ll have to stick around for a while to get the chance to play it in.
“I am 25 now. I’m not sure what the time-frame is, but I’d like to imagine I’ll get to play in it for a few years.
“Unfortunately, there will be players who will go through their entire inter-county career with Antrim without having played in Casement.
“It will be great to see it finally getting built and it will be brilliant to have a world-class facility in the heart of Belfast, in Ireland’s second city.
“Antrim have been waiting for that lift to come from Casement and, hopefully, it comes for the footballers, the hurlers, the ladies’ footballers and the camogs.”
The one major hurdle still to be cleared is funding for the redevelopment.
Under the original funding model, the NI Executive was to invest £62.5M with the GAA contributing £15M.
In the interim, costs have soared and the estimate for the project now stands at around £110M, some £32.5M more than the original estimates.
Nevertheless, the new stadium would provide a huge economic boost to the Andersonstown area with Ulster GAA likely to move the senior football finals away from Clones to the new Casement Park.
Healy said that concerns about the viability of hosting the provincial decider in West Belfast are unfounded.
“Ulster needs a modern, fit-for-purpose stadium that can host the Ulster final,” added the St Enda’s clubman.
“It is a hot topic at the minute regarding Clones and its suitability for an Ulster final.
“There are concerns over Belfast as well. You only have to look at Croke Park - it is built in a big city in a residential area and there aren’t many issues.
“Belfast and Casement Park can be a brilliant place to host Ulster finals.
“Hopefully, over the coming years, Antrim can push to be there as well.”
In a statement, the Ulster Council also gave a warm welcome to the ruling.
“Today’s ruling by Mr. Justice Humphreys is truly momentous for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster and the GAA at national level, who dismissed the legal challenge against the granting of planning permission for Casement Park. The decision was clear, unambiguous and emphatic,” read the statement.
“We can now, finally, plan for the delivery of our provincial stadium and the last remaining project within the NI Executive’s Regional Sports Stadia Programme.
“We recognise the outstanding work of the Casement Park Project Team, their expertise, professionalism, and dedication throughout this long journey. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that the transformational sporting, cultural and economic benefits of this iconic stadium can finally be realised.
“We thank Gaels and the community of West Belfast for their overwhelming support and strength of voice throughout this process.
“To those that are opposed to the project we would like to assure them that we will be good neighbours, working closely with everyone throughout construction and when operational to bring positive benefits to the whole community.”
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