Casement Park letters reveal strain in relations between minister and GAA president

If there is any money from the government for Casement Park, it will not bridge the current funding gap according to Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn. Mr Benn has again made clear a contribution from the government to redevelop the stadium is not guaranteed and won’t be decided until the spending review in June. In a week in which the Labour government has moved to further cut welfare payments across the UK in an effort to save £5billion, Hilary Benn was asked if the government would be in a position to contribute to Casement Park.Speaking at an event in Londonderry on Thursday Hilary Benn said: “Even if there were to be a contribution it is not going to fill the hole and therefore all of those who are interested in seeing this project developed are going to have to sit down and say: 'where are we going to get the rest of the funding from?'

There is currently £120million for the redevelopment of Casement Park from the Stormont Executive, the Irish Government and the GAA. However, the GAA has indicated a further £140m may be needed for the project.The Secretary of State and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons met last week to discuss the Casement Park project.Yesterday Mr Benn also pointed to the planning permission for the stadium running out in July 2026.Mr Benn said: “The practical thing to consider in those circumstances is: what might you be able to start on the site with the money you HAVE got so you secure the planning permission and don't end up with a further delay."In the meantime, frustration is mounting and relationships continue to fray over the project.Last month the President of the GAA said the organisation was working in a ‘hostile environment’ on Casement and during a visit to Stormont set out his feelings about the Communities minister Gordon Lyons.Jarlath Burns said: “I think it would be very helpful if we could have a bit more action from the sports minister Gordon Lyons in terms of the action points we have agreed with him. It’s unfortunate he hasn’t actioned on those yet."UTV has now seen letters between the minister and the GAA President since that press conference. They show a further deterioration of their relationship.

The communities minister wrote to Mr Burns on the 27th February confirming he planned to meet the Secretary of State about Casement Park. Gordon Lyons then wrote: "I also look forward to discussing your recent comments in the media in relation to me personally, which have been disappointing and unhelpful.”Mr Burns wrote back on the very same day saying: “I acknowledge receipt of your update but must express my deep disappointment that this is the only formal engagement I have received from you since our meeting on the 31st October 2024.”That meeting was described at the time as being ‘tetchy’.The GAA President went on in his letter to question why the minister had not brought a paper to the Stormont Executive on Casement Park as committed to in the meeting last October. Jarlath Burns wrote: “I now make a direct and formal enquiry as to why this has not yet been done.”Mr Burns then asked for clarification of comments made by the minister on UTV last month. On UTV’s View From Stormont programme the Communities Minister said: “At this point in time nothing has been put in front of me from the GAA.He was asked again to clarify his statement that there was no proposal on the table for Casement Park and its cost.Mr Lyons said: “I’ve had nothing from the GAA in terms of their proposals.In his letter to the minister, Jarlath Burns described the comments as ‘simply untrue’.Last week Minister Lyons confirmed he has written to the GAA President to schedule a meeting to discuss the Casement project. It’s understood that a meeting could be imminent.

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