The North’s Prime Minister, Michelle O’Neill, is seeking greater transparency from the UK government over the revitalisation of Casement Park, stating that this is a unique chance for Northern Ireland to be a host of the 2028 European Championships. She suggested that the first European Championship match could potentially take place at Casement Park, subsequent to the defeat of England by Spain in this year’s soccer tournament final.
Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, is set to discuss the Casement Park renovation plans with Keir Starmer, the UK’s newly elected prime minister, during their initial meeting this Wednesday. Despite being identified as the venue for five games during the tournament set to take place in Britain and Ireland in four years, the former GAA field in west Belfast remains derelict. The necessary funding for the stadium’s reconstruction has yet to be finalised. There is an increasing worry that if funds are not made available soon, the refurbishment may not be completed in time for the European Championship, forcing the matches to be relocated possibly to Dublin.
Northern Secretary Hilary Benn has labelled the Casement Park rebuild as the most pressing issue on his agenda and agreed that ‘it needs to be carried out’. However, he expressed concern that it may not be ready in time for the European Championships. He also stated that the current financial resources were insufficient to meet the escalated costs.
The cost of reshaping Casement Park has surged since first proposed in 2011, and the funds pledged by the Northern Executive, the GAA, and the Irish Government – which has committed €50 million – are not enough to bring the project to completion.
During his appearance on the BBC’s Sunday Politics over the weekend, Mr Harris stated that the Government was not averse to the idea of increasing its expenditure. However, he pointed out that past commitments for funding were already in place and discussions were needed to gain clarity on the British government’s stand on this issue.
He expressed appreciation for Mr Benn’s promising remarks regarding the construction of Casement Park. Even though he agreed, he emphasised the key matter was scheduling. Failing to host matches in Northern Ireland during Euro 2028 due to timing issues would be a significant missed opportunity, Mr Harris warned.
The First Minister released a statement on the following Monday, showing her appreciation for both the Irish and British governments for their favourable comments made recently about the Casement Park construction.
According to her, hosting the European championships was an exceptional opportunity. She stated that it would not only stir great enthusiasm among people across the age spectrum but also set in motion significant economic growth in Northern communities by infusing tens of millions into the local economy.
Ms O’Neill described it as an opportunity for their time to be internationally recognised, laying the groundwork for substantial changes in local football for the future. It was an opportunity not to be missed, she insisted.
During the first official meeting with the newly appointed British prime minister and the British secretary of state, she expressed this view explicitly and eagerly anticipated more detailed information from them.