The Irish Government’s €50m investment in Casement Park is “significant for the whole island,” according to the SDLP.

On The Hard Shoulder today, the party’s South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said the stadium can now be used to host Euro 2028 games - a first for Ireland - and other events outside of the GAA once it is complete.

Casement Park’s re-development was announced earlier this week as part of an €800m package of Shared Island projects with the North, which also includes the long-awaited upgrading of the A5 road through Derry and Tyrone.

Mr O’Toole said the stadium, which had been home to Antrim’s GAA teams until it was left derelict in 2013, is “not just for Gaelic games”.

“This is about the opportunity for the island of Ireland to have two venues for a major international soccer tournament – something we’ve never had before,” he said.

“The Casement Park investment is hugely welcome and will be transformative for Belfast but it is really significant for the whole island too.

“People who care about the GAA, particularly in the Ulster region, will all benefit from it – as well as Gaelic games across the island.”

Casement Park has been derelict since 2013. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr O’Toole said the stadium can have many uses outside of GAA, such as concerts, once it is redeveloped.

“Clearly it’s going to be more than GAA because one of the main driving forces is a soccer tournament,” he said.

“I think it will be a GAA stadium but I don’t think there is any prohibition on it being a broader resource.

“In terms of it predominantly being a GAA stadium, I think that’s right and proper.

“Gaelic games in this city are growing rapidly and we really deserve and need a proper GAA stadium.”

Funding of the stadium has been criticised by former Irish international Damian Duff who said resources are needed elsewhere to promote soccer domestically.

Frustrations

Former League of Ireland player Alan Cawley told The Hard Shoulder he was frustrated by the investment.

“The frustration from the likes of myself and people involved in football is we’re crying out for resources and facilities at all levels of the game here,” he said.

“It shouldn’t take a football tournament for the Government to be seen to be investing into facilities – especially one as big as Casement Park, which is ultimately a GAA park.

“I’m for the Euros, it’s going to be brilliant for Ireland when we do host it, but we have far more pressing issues on the ground here.”

'No appetite'

Mr Cawley added that there was “no appetite” from Government to help with more pressing issues in domestic soccer.

The total cost of Casement Park's redevelopment is estimated to be over £220m.

It has an estimated opening date as a 34,500-capacity stadium in the summer of 2027.

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Main image: A derelict Casement Park pictured in 2013. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo.