Casement Park in Belfast has been the home of Gaelic Games in Northern Ireland for over a century. It has been the host of many memorable games and events in history. The stadium has undergone a major transformation and is now ready to welcome back the Gaelic community to relive history once again.
The History
Opened in 1953, Casement Park has been the venue for many big Gaelic games in Northern Ireland. It was named after Sir Roger Casement, a famous Irish nationalist who was executed in 1916 after landing arms in Ireland from Germany. The stadium was home to the Antrim senior football and hurling teams, as well as to many more club teams.
The historic venue has seen many significant games over the years. It hosted the Ulster Senior Football Championship final in 1959, 1967, 1973, 2000 and 2003. It was also the venue for the Liam MacCarthy Cup final in 1993, when Kilkenny beat Galway. It was a proud moment for the Antrim hurling team and the people of Belfast to host the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on August 17, 1991, following a request by the Antrim County Board, when Tipperary defeated Antrim.
The Revolution
After many years of waiting, the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast began in 2013. The stadium has undergone a major transformation, with the new design having a capacity of 34,578. The new stadium will be one of the most modern sports venues in Ireland, and with a modern, high-quality stadium, the Gaelic community can look forward to many more exciting games and events for many more years to come.
The redevelopment of the stadium has been funded entirely by the Irish government, which has in the past contributed funding to Gaelic games in Northern Ireland. The project has been a significant investment for the government, with the cost of the renovation estimated at £79 million. However, the investment is expected to bring many benefits to the local community, including the creation of new jobs and the regeneration of the surrounding areas.
The Future
The reopening of Casement Park comes at a time when the Gaelic community in Northern Ireland is thriving, and there is a renewed sense of pride and interest in the sport. The facility is now ready to welcome back crowds, and a series of exciting events are planned, including games by the Antrim teams, Ulster senior football and hurling, and many more exciting games in the future.
The threat of the pandemic still lingers, but as the world emerges from the crisis, the Gaelic community in Northern Ireland can look forward to many more memorable games at Casement Park. For the people of Belfast, it’s time to relive history once again.
