McNulty - Time To Get Casement Built!

Following the UK Government's announcement yesterday, 11 June of £50m funding for Casement Park a local MLA has urged the Stormont Executive to step up and deliver the funding required to complete the long-delayed redevelopment of the GAA grounds. 

Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “The Casement Park project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a world-class stadium for Ulster GAA and a cornerstone for the community, but it won’t happen unless the Executive steps up to the line. The UK Government has finally come to the table. The Irish Government has played its part. The GAA has stayed the course. The only absentee is the Executive.

Mr. McNulty, a member of the celebrated 2002 All-Ireland winning Armagh team is a seasoned advocate for sports infrastructure. He has highlighted that the original Executive commitment to Casement Park – £62.5 million in 2011 – is no longer adequate.

“With an adjustment for sector-specific inflation, that original £62.5 million commitment would now be in the region of £120 million in today’s construction terms, leaving a more manageable shortfall. The other stadiums in the Executive's programme, Windsor Park and Ravenhill, received generous funding over a decade ago. Casement has waited more than long enough for equivalent generosity. 

“This needs to be about fairness and vision. Every young Gael in Antrim and in Ulster deserves access to world-class facilities, and every sport deserves parity of esteem. Casement Park must be delivered – not delayed, not downsized, and not politicised.

“As the largest party in the Executive, Sinn Féin occupy the positions of First Minster and Finance Minister. Their warm and welcome statements that Casement Park will be built must be backed up with the commitment and the investment required to make it happen. Political leadership means honouring pledges and putting public money where your promises are.

“Let this be the final chapter in the long story of dither and delay. Gaels across Ireland are watching. It's time to get Casement built."