Call for investment in Clones and downsizing of Casement plan

Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher has repeated his call for the capacity of Casement Park to be reduced to reflect funding shortfalls highlighting how Clones could benefit from these adjustments.

£120 million in funding has already been allocated for the redevelopment of Antrim's County Ground however, it's estimated the full cost of the upgrades could cost in the region of £260 million pounds.

Senator Robbie Gallagher believes the shortfall should be grounds to reduce the capacity from 32,500 to around 20,000, scaling the project as a result of this shortfall and redirecting savings towards the development towards St Tiernach's Park in Clones:

“It's 12 years since Casement Park closed and the current state of play is that the projected cost stands at £270m (€343m), with £170m (€216m) promised by the British and Irish governments, the Stormont Executive and the GAA. That leaves a shortfall of £100m (€127m), with no indication of where that money is going to come from. The truth is that it probably won't come from anywhere and the 34,000-capacity stadium will have to be scaled back. Costs are soaring by an estimated £140,000 (€178,000) per month. Having a big stadium in Belfast doesn't make economic sense and a smaller 15,000-20,000 capacity stadium would be adequate for Antrim's needs. It could be accompanied by various other facilities to help boost GAA activity in the city.

Clones is the home of the Ulster final, there is no need to change that, he said. Senator Gallagher has previously called on the leader of the Seanad to write to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Minister for Sport in relation to this proposal.