SDLP representative Justin McNulty has described the plan to host some of the Euro 2028 games at Casement Park in Belfast as “monumentally positive news”.
It was a huge opportunity for the area and could inspire a generation to get involved in sport, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
Casement Park had been facing planning and legal challenges since 2013 from local residents who had concerns around the scale of the development, he explained. It was a wonderful sporting venue and had not been played on for too long.
“The news that broke yesterday is monumental. It's monumentally positive and a huge opportunity to inspire a generation. There is a huge opportunity to celebrate all of our traditions in a spirit of generosity. I think this is monumental news, a huge opportunity for this island.”
Mr McNulty commended a variety of sporting organisations including the Irish Football Association, Ulster Rugby and the GAA for their efforts and for “seeing the Big Picture.” Despite the many setbacks they were forging ahead.
“This stadium will be built and will be a beacon of hope for West Belfast and a beacon of hope for almost every sport in Ireland.”
When asked about the cost of the development and where the money will come from, Mr McNulty said that the Secretary of State had already committed to the British Government paying for the stadium. But the “hope dividend” that would come from “this monumental sporting event” could not be measured in pounds and pence, he said.
The development of Casement Park would be good for Belfast, for Ulster, for Ireland, he added. “I don't see why there can be any challenges right now, how they cannot see the uplift this would bring to the island, how we can inspire a new generation and get behind it and let’s all be very positive about something which is monumentally positive news for Ireland.”
