In West Belfast, thousands of supporters marched through the streets toward the derelict Casement Park stadium. The mass mobilisation aimed to express growing anger and frustration over the years-long delays in rebuilding the venue.

Echoes of broken promises

Once a proud fixture on Belfast’s sporting map, Casement Park today resembles more of a ruin than a stadium. On Saturday morning, April 12, the streets of West Belfast filled with players, GAA officials, and supporters. The march concluded at the neglected site, where a rally was held calling on authorities to finally act.

The stadium has stood silent for over twelve years — its stands empty, its pitch unused. The fans' call is simple: rebuild it, and do it now. And yet, in today’s fast-paced digital world, the best solutions are often just a click away. For instance, you’ll find top online poker platforms at CardPlayer.com, as well as tournaments for beginners and pros, and tutorials to raise your game.

The protest came ahead of the Ulster Championship quarter-final between Antrim and Armagh — a fixture that had to be hosted at the much smaller Corrigan Park due to the lack of a suitable venue. Corrigan holds just 4,000 spectators, a far cry from the needs of provincial championship games.

Stadium that never was

Plans for a new Casement Park include a modern venue with 34,000 seats. The redevelopment was projected to cost around £270 million. Back in 2011, the Northern Ireland Executive allocated £62.5 million to the project, and the Irish Government pledged another £42 million. But despite those commitments, the project remains stalled — with a £150 million funding gap still unresolved.

In comparison, Belfast’s two other major sports venues — Windsor Park for football and Ravenhill for rugby — have already undergone full renovations. Casement Park, however, remains untouched, stalled by legal complications and the lack of guaranteed funding.

Many of those marching expressed deep disappointment in both local and central government. DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons rejected claims the project wasn’t a priority, while Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the UK Government would consider financial support only after a broader spending review — and even then, the government wouldn’t fill the entire shortfall.

The GAA has pledged at least £15 million of its own funds. But it’s still not enough to turn the crumbling stadium into a venue fit for provincial and national events.

Time to act

One of the most powerful moments of the day came from Kevin Gamble of South Antrim GAA: Unfortunately, Casement Park has now been closed for over 4,000 days — that’s 12 years and counting. Ulster Rugby got their stadium in 2014. The Irish FA got theirs in 2016. And I’m sure everyone here today supports funding for all sports. We’re here today asking for equality — for the GAA to get the stadium we were promised over 13 years ago.

He added that the stadium was meant to symbolise sporting progress in Ireland’s second-largest urban area — and has instead become a symbol of political deadlock. Oisin McConville, Armagh legend, echoed the sentiment: This isn’t about the current generation. It’s about the next one. Many of them are standing right in front of me. This isn’t just about Antrim. It’s about Ulster. It’s about every Gael in Ireland. Every province that supports what must be done. Remember — this isn’t a question of ‘Can we do it?’ or ‘Will we do it?’. It’s simple: just do it.