Catching up on BBC's The View the other night on the Sky planner I came across an episode from a few weeks ago where Stormont Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Caral ni Chuilin, was interviewed by host Mark Carruthers in relation to objections from local residents to the Casement Park development in West Belfast. While the proposed stadium has been in the pipeline for quite some time it seems only now that residents are becoming aware of just ho imposing this new facility will be on the privacy of their homes and indeed the wider community for a variety of reasons.
I first saw prospective drawings for what the new Casement would look like as far back as the summer and possibly before that again. I can't recall for sure but one thing I haven't forgotten is my reaction at the time. Frankly it can be summed up as 'no need'. I fully sympathise with the concerns of those who've taken umbrage and hope that those elected to represent them and the GAA pay attention.
In my view the proposed new Casement Park is absolute madness, for no other reason than it will never be filled, well at least for sporting reasons, bar on Ulster Final Day. If I were a resident living nearby no way would I roll over and let this go ahead, I'd be fighting tooth and nail and going all out for a judicial review. The sheer size and scope of the project is totally uncalled for and smacks of people having jumped up ideas of what's good for the area. It will simply never be more than half full - if they're lucky - and will end up hosting concerts to make the project sustainable. Who wants that hassle on their doorstep judging by how the residents around Croke Park have ended up being treated by the GAA? And the fact that it was supposedly granted a concert licence to my mind speaks volumes.
It would have been much more understandable and indeed far more feasible to renovate and refurbish the existing structure. For sure there was work required to bring the stadium up to scratch but simply doing up the ground without this abomination would have been more than good enough. The plans put forward are totally over-the-top with an element of fantasy and in truth just don't make sense. When you look at the number of games that will be played there in no way can the figures being bandied about (currently in the region of £75 million) be in any way justified. I'm an avid GAA man myself and can state without fear of contradiction that championship games, which are the highlight of the season, ordinarily would not draw attendances of more than 17-18,000 tops - and that's probably being generous and accounting for the like of Tyrone, who have a massive following, being involved in a semi-final. For sporting purposes it's plain to see the grandiose proposals as they stand are just not necessary and will never be viable.
Unless of course there's a hidden agenda - should we really rule that out? There will be huge benefits for some, most especially 'big business', with of course one half of the Stormont junta having much to gain in terms of keeping up appearances and showing those in the business community that they can deliver. But the benefits for West Belfast will in truth be minimal. Watching ni Chuilin and her visibly dismissive attitude of 'we're building this thing regardless' was very disappointing but in truth to be expected. Those who once prided themselves on being the direct representatives of their people have lost the run of themselves on a tide of power and quite simply seem no longer willing to listen to those who elect them. They're no longer there to represent but to govern. A'int that a dandy.
Judging by the attitude of the budding Minister and her colleague Paul Maskey, who is the sitting MP for the area, the only hope for the people who want their legitimate grievances properly addressed, as opposed to being skimmed over and watered down in the name of 'progress', is to bring this issue before the courts through a judicial review - that's the only mechanism I can see capable of addressing the situation and the only one the politicians have any fear or worry of. Because the new-establishment politicos simply do not feel or take consideration of pressure from below and have shown time and time again they are quite comfortable in ignoring the concerns of those they supposedly represent. That ordinary people are sick, sore and tired of being trampled over means not a jot to those sitting in their ivory towers beyond impeachment. These days they only represent themselves and the powers that be, namely big business and the economic elite.
The bottom line is that Casement of course needs some TLC and could be a fantastic local asset with a little effort. But to build this monstrosity without the sustainable support base to warrant it and over and above the legitimate concerns and grievances of those who live in the area is arrogance personified - from both the GAA itself and the political representatives who continue to push this on the people of Andersonstown and West Belfast. It could not be more apparent to my mind that true intentions are being concealed under the banner of sporting need and what we are really confronted with here is a 'big event' location to make even more money for those who have it coming out their ears.
Ultimately sport and the GAA has little if anything to do with it. If that were really the motive here, if those behind this project were genuinely interested in promoting the sport, then they would spread that money throughout the county and beyond while still having a Casement Park fit for purpose, still having a Casement Park as the pride of the community, still having a Casement Park that can offer everything the GAA and wider society needs while maintaining sustainability and taking account of those deserving people who will co-exist with the development 365 days of the year. Ultimately they are the one's who really count are they not? It's never to late and full solidarity with the residents of Andersonstown as they take this important issue forward.
brilliant article sean bres. the only thing gaelic about the gaa now is what the men & women, girls & boys do on the pitch. i refer to that organisation as the gombeen athletic association now. they are corporate gombeen men who run that outfit now and us gaels have to overthrow them. thats not shite talk, i mean that, a bloodless coup of the gombeen mafia in that organisation, if we cant do that we can forget about gettin the brits out. look what the nobs in croke park earn and get up to, shameless sleeveen goons. sean bres i hope u run and run with this one, i really do. we have to reclaim that once great organisation from the corporate gombeen mafia. by the way bres - ye wont win another all ireland for another decade at least haha.
ReplyDeleteSean bres-
ReplyDeleteYou are a Tyrone GAA fan and you hate every other county in Ireland never mind Antrim-you can't even hide it with the massive following comment like no other county has-
The GAA is going to buy the homes of those close to Casement who complains the most-hate The GAA but like their checks springs to mind -
Interesting article.
ReplyDeleteNot being a big GAA fan myself I look at the possibility of another quality stadium as good for future international events coming to Ireland. Euros or Rugby for example if permissible. The more quality stadia the better in that regard. Surely if its empty a lot of the time the GAA can afford it, look at Croker sure.
i heard u were great at the aul camogie michael
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a Tyrone man Mickey I wouldn't want that abortion foisted on the people of Omagh, Dungannon, Coalisland, Strabane or anywhere else. Any honest man or woman knows the point I make and it's got nowt to do with hating anyone. It is simply uncalled for, the crowds that attend GAA games in no way warrant 38,000 seats full stop. Larry I take your point but the powers that be are being careful NOT to present this project in the light you're suggesting and if that is its true purpose don't you agree the community and people affected should have a real say in this? The GAA and the political representatives involved here have already conceded that proper notice and consultation was NOT served and that to me is wrong every single day of the week matter how you look at it
ReplyDeleteShould have said by the way a big thanks to Marty and Carrie, it was our discussion on this issue the other day that prompted me to write the article, couldn't have done it without liberating a few thoughts and ideas from ye's! Go raibh maith agat
ReplyDeleteSean,
ReplyDeleteNo one in this world was a bigger GAA fan than my Da.
He just lived and breathed everything Irish and especially loved the promotion of Gaelic games.
Games that we were all taken to regular as children.
Although I did not share his enthusiasm for these games, deep down I always nursed a serious respect for the GAA.
Until during the campaign for Marian we approached one of their clubs to use a room for quite an important meeting and got a resounding No !!!
I fully understand the worries of the people in Casement and fully support them but Sinn Fein will do what they always do the goose step.
Not if the residents seek a judicial review though Nuala. But don't worry, Mickey's already arranging to buy their houses, that should sort it all out... Especially when Garth Brooks comes to town for the second leg of his Irish tour
ReplyDeletesean bres, any comment on kildare being robbed there.
ReplyDeleteRobbed? You play to the final whistle lad!
ReplyDeleteFirst class post Sean a cara, I have just returned from the hills of Donegal was looking for" or Willie"and I was at the Lagoon bar but the fucker had made a hasty retreat, had I found him I,d have shown him my willie,anyway a cara re Casement my original alma mater ,yes a cara when Andytown was in its in its infancy and the parish of st Agnes was just being established we went to school under the stand in Casement park. which by the way was donated to the gaa by Eastwoods the scrap merchants and the beams came from the original Long Kesh, so fast forward to the 70,s the park was taken over by the dummy tits, much huffing and puffing was done by the head honchos of the gaa re this travesty but fuck all else, the local people blocked the main road played token hurling matches and football on the road to protest,and eventually the brits fucked of and the club was returned to the people, now fast forward again past it becoming a private helipad for Gerry Itwasntme,to the total farce that this £75 mill investment really is, its was only a few years ago that £8 mill was spent on refurbishing this ground to hold approx 32,000 now we are told that £75 mill is to be spent on something that will increase the capacity by just a few thousand, but hey we all know that the real purpose of this investment is for private enterprise and fuck all to do with the national sport but rather the promotion of concerts such as Garth Brooks, as for employment when the initial building is completed there will be around 6 full time posts that is juding by Croke park and that has a museum, so its possible that that number will be even less, so where is the long term benefit to the people of west Belfast never mind the jobs, once again quisling $inn £einds have been caught out lying through their fucking teeth, Carol the cunt Cullen has stated that its going ahead no matter what and prof Stanley Unwin standin Paulbroy Maskey the local quisling mp is about as useful to the residents as an ashtray on a motorcycle,this farce will become a nightmare for anyone living locally, having to apply for permits to get in and out of your own area, the people need to get back out on the streets to save Casement park this time not from the brits but the gaa and their cronies in big business,
ReplyDeleteSpot on Marty and have to say I love your way with words, it's unique but it is bang on the money every time. I wasn't aware of Casement's history so thanks for that but I mind you saying you went to school under the stands, gee's you're showing the oul' age there boy! I think Carrie's idea that it should be revamped along the existing architecture is perfect and is a win-win for all parties but you know as well as me Sinn Fein see this as their baby and will force it through. The only thing that can stop them is the judicial process as we've seen with the A5 down this neck of the woods. The impact this thing will have on the local environment has not been thought through. To be a sustainable project it will need to expand beyond sporting use and this is were the deceit comes in. What's wrong with Clones to begin with and where does this leave the likes of Healy Park and the Athletic Grounds who've invested in their stadia on the promise of getting Ulster semi-finals? It's being done for all the wrong reasons, principally to cover the fact the DUP shafted us on the plans for a stadium at Long Kesh
ReplyDeleteYip Sean a cara some say rightly so that I,m two days older than Christ,but a judical review may indeed be the way to go here for the residents, its now divide and conquer tactics being used by those behind this project by offering to buy some homes, but if the truth be told they would need to buy half of Andytown to facilitate the parking reqd for the major crowd pulling events these wide boys have planed for Casement park and yes the odd game,had the gaa been truly interested in promoting the game throughout the county they would have spread that money throughout the clubs,but then as we know its not about the game or the playing of it ,it seems to me that since quisling $inn £eind and the catholic church got together and along with the grab all assoc,screwing the people has become their main obsession, it certainly isnt justice , equality or the pursuit of our national identity, these bastards have succumbed to the siren calls and crashed on to the rocks of greed and treachery ,they are all welcome to each other, a judical review may work a cara but people power definitely will,the people need to exercise their power by stating that this farce will not be tolerated .
ReplyDeleteThe two can work hand-in-hand Marty, I'd say people on the street would only strengthen any legal process. Sinn Fein's blackening of anyone engaging in such activity as anti-peace however is unnerving and shows how low they will stoop. Divide and conquer is right. Worse than the Brits, an example of Orwell's 'Animal Farm' come true
ReplyDeleteSame thing is happening in Dublin ....and the same complaints voiced...
ReplyDeleteThe residents have complained their area is "locked down" during concerts and have threatened legal action.The GAA has asked the chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission to chair talks between the two sides. However, the residents said the GAA did not consult them before asking LRC boss Kieran Mulvey to help resolve the dispute. Last month, Patrick Gates from the Croke Park and Clonliffe Residents Association said they had to endure "noise pollution, traffic congestion, litter, drunken concert-goers and anti-social behaviour" when major concerts were staged at Croke Park.
I'd say that's what the people of Andersonstown have in store for them, but sure it's all in the name of 'progress' - they should be thankful for their lot and proud to be putting West Belfast on the map
ReplyDelete"principally to cover the fact the DUP shafted us on the plans for a stadium at Long Kesh"
ReplyDeletespot on Sean Bres
https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/dup-not-fit-to-govern/
Just to update, as you know another planning application has been submitted and I am told that it proposes to flatten the Andersonstown leisure centre and that ground, which stretches from Andersonstown road to the m1 slip road will be used as a car park for the enlarged stadium. A new leisure centre is to appear and linked to the proposed pitch for Glasmullen green to replace the one flattened with a further pitch in the Falls park!
ReplyDelete