Casement Park Belfast — Antrim GAA Venue Guide

Casement Park is the historic GAA stadium in Belfast, located on the Andersonstown Road in west Belfast. Named after the Irish revolutionary Roger Casement, it served as the home of Antrim GAA — both hurling and Gaelic football — for decades before closing in June 2013 ahead of a planned redevelopment. The stadium, with a pre-closure capacity of approximately 32,500, occupied around 12 acres and was for many years the largest GAA venue in Ulster. As of 2026, the site is undergoing demolition and remediation in preparation for a new 34,500-capacity stadium that will be Ulster's largest sports arena when complete. The redevelopment has been one of the most protracted sporting infrastructure projects in Irish history, beset by planning challenges, legal battles, contractor difficulties, and a significant funding gap. Nonetheless, multi-government and GAA funding commitments totalling approximately £170 million have been secured, with construction expected to proceed as the funding shortfall is addressed. The stadium was proposed as a host venue for UEFA Euro 2028 before being withdrawn in September 2024 when it became clear the rebuild could not be completed in time. Visitors should note the stadium is currently closed with no public access.

Casement Park's origins date to the early 1930s when the Antrim County Board began acquiring land in Andersonstown with funds raised through community effort. The stadium opened in 1933 and for eight decades served as the home of Antrim GAA. Named in honour of Roger Casement — the Irish revolutionary and humanitarian who was hanged in 1916 — the venue hosted county, provincial, and All-Ireland qualifier fixtures, as well as notable Ulster Championship games. Redevelopment plans were first announced in 2009, with the Northern Ireland Executive committing £61.4 million in 2011 for a new 40,000-seat stadium. However, local residents' objections led to a High Court ruling in 2014 that the planning approval was unlawful. A scaled-back 34,500-capacity design was submitted in 2016 but planning approvals were delayed by the suspension of the Stormont Assembly. Planning permission was finally confirmed in July 2021. In 2023 the primary contractor went into administration, causing further delays. Demolition and clearance work eventually commenced in early 2024. By June 2025, £50 million had been committed by the UK Government, joining earlier pledges from Stormont, the Irish Government, and the GAA — though a funding gap of around £90 million remained as of mid-2025.

Casement Park has been closed since 2013, and no matchday atmosphere is currently possible. Historically, Casement Park was renowned for its passionate west Belfast atmosphere on Ulster Championship days, when Antrim drew large, vociferous crowds in one of the most fervently GAA-supporting communities in Ireland. When the new 34,500-capacity stadium opens, it is expected to become one of the finest GAA venues on the island, capable of hosting Ulster Championship finals, All-Ireland qualifier series matches, and potentially provincial and national finals.

No stadium tours are available at Casement Park. The site is closed to the public and is currently undergoing demolition and remediation works. Once the new stadium is built and operational, tours are expected to be introduced. Check Ulster GAA (www.ulster.gaa.ie) for future announcements regarding stadium tours and opening dates.

There is no museum at Casement Park. The stadium has been closed since 2013. Future heritage and museum facilities may be incorporated into the new stadium development — this will be confirmed as the project progresses. The story of Roger Casement himself is told at a number of Belfast heritage attractions and tourist sites.