I cant believe some of the tripe being posted here by so called irishmen. To those geniuses with usernames with republican connotations i'll ask one question, who did bulk of the fighting in our most recent war?? Would that be all the hoods from the dodgy housing estates in north/west belfast!!
As for pitches, most clubs certainly in the west of the city have now got 2 pitches, my own club being an exception. This itself is remarkable given the clamour for land to build apartments and folds and the like!
As for Belfast not being a GAA city, show me a major city in ireland that is predominantly GAA. Some people follow hurling, some football and others follow soccer. In fact, given that bar 3 clubs in north belfast and 1/2 in east belfast, west belfast has produced nearly 20 clubs is quite an achievement.
Finally, obviously Nicky Brennan thinks casement is a fantastic ground capable of holding a compromise rules game next year judging by the article in the irish news. Sure if nothing else we can get all the hoods in to give the aussies a going over if we're getting it tight!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 30/10/2008 13:21:43    129847

I think its a great idea to have the International Rules held there and I think holding the Ulster final in Casement would be a great boost to the GAA in the city. The GAA need to promote the games in city areas like Belfast, Limerick and Galway

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4643 - 30/10/2008 13:45:37    129884

I think its a great idea to have the International Rules held there
bad.monkey , 30/10/2008 at 13:45
--------------------------

Agreed BM - but its gonna confuse the hell out of Gregory!!!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 30/10/2008 14:29:27    129990

Parking around casement is grand if you park in the shopping centre car park which is free.

The policing around casement on a match day now makes it easier for traffic departing the ground.

The pitch is very good quality and is well looked after.

Casement does need an upgrade but as Antrim own the ground it should be up to us to improve it

oisinboy (Antrim) - Posts: 335 - 30/10/2008 14:46:03    130031

Samin, you know all the roads around Clones. I know all the roads in Andersonstown. So you can avoid jams in Clones, and I can in Belfast.

And Clones has better stands because the Ulster council chose to spend the money there rather than Casement. It was a decision to make a bigger stand and such.

As for Tom 1916, a brave, awe inspiring name. Might change mine to Hoodie 08. And Wolfe Tone as well, caring for all people, protestant, catholic and dissenter.

Bumpernut was right. If Tom had been around in 1916 he would be calling Pearse and the boys thugs.

And on behalf of the people of Andersonstown, we like being unfriendly.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 30/10/2008 19:49:59    130329

The International Rules will be a good boost for Casement and if it goes well the Ulster final could be held there the following year.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2003 - 30/10/2008 20:00:25    130338

By the way Pom-Pom, if the Ulster senior championship is so Mickey Mouse, how come Tyrone have never won it?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 30/10/2008 21:10:00    130381

This thing about the hoodies is getting a bit out of hand. No one I know of has ever had their car broken into, stolen etc. That's being a bit paranoid running out to your car to make sure it's ok after the match.
Samin10 you mention a day were there was an accident, that was just one day and even if there is blockages I'm sure the PSNI could find a way for spectators to get to the match (if it's a big match they won't want to be shown up by huge traffic jams either).
There is ample parking down at the shopping centre.
Casement has the potenial to be better than Clones if it gets funding and maybe the area cleaned up a bit.

Saffron (Antrim) - Posts: 216 - 30/10/2008 22:48:05    130431

Clones is the best venue by a country mile for atmosphere and craic before a match. It is not that hard to get out of after a game either if you know where to park. Casement is a good venue too but tailbacks on the M.1 as you approach is very off-putting.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 30/10/2008 23:53:19    130469

Couple of points. First, Tom1916 take the anti-Belfast chip off your shoulder, it's a bore now. Secondly the stadium HAS the infrastructure to stage big matches including Ulster finals BUT there seems to be those within the Ulster GAA community that want to bin Casement. Why this is I don't know but there is a perception within the city that there is a BIG anti-Belfast element within Ulster. Thirdly the stewarding can be a bit in your face at times with several unfriendly jobsworths on the gates and in the ground. This can also go on around the country but the Belfast hardman image is a turn off as it seems to be the mantra for some stewards at Casement. I also agree that the GAA community in Belfast and the shops/ bars in and around Csement COULD do a lot to be more friendly to our country cousins. There IS a narky service in some of these places. However the fact is that Belfast is the main city in Ulster and it needs to have a GAA stadium staging big matches. I mean if we used infrastructure as an excuse Clones wouldn't even get a first round match as it takes an age to get in and out.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9785 - 31/10/2008 00:06:44    130474

I first mentioned Belfast as a non-GAA town for the simple reason i worked in a.town for a number of years and i would say that 1 in 10 people i met had actually been to Casement. I was surprised by the number of clubs in the west of the city and fair play to them,a GAA club surviving in any urban area is a tough prospect. But i still believe GAA in West Belfast would be a poor second to soccer,which is a shame for the people that are trying to encourage the game in the city.
And for the fella who was making a point about fighting the war...im lost on your point!!

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1071 - 31/10/2008 10:17:32    130592

i have two friends who live in the area, one on falls road and the other on stockmans lane just a few hundread yards from Casement Park, both have had their cars stole twice. Ones heavily pregnant girlfriend woke to see a man standing at her bedside looking for car keys. I will say it again the majority of people in Andytown and west Belfast are good people, but they have a higher ratio of s***bags than most places in the north. Where is joyriding capital of the north? Truthfull answer is west belfast. Casement is a good ground but the vast majority of ulster people will tell you they prefer Clones, dont understand why this upsets so many belfast and antrim people. someone tells me that they prefer Clones to the new Athletic Grounds in Armagh i wouldnt take offence. Its a better ground and a much more enjoyable and friendly carnival atmosphere.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 31/10/2008 11:17:53    130667

Patrique because who in Ulster really cares about hurling apart from Antrim

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 31/10/2008 11:34:53    130696

Back to my original point and no disrespect to Casement Park. There is no incentive to go early to a match there except to beat the traffic queues. There is nothing like Clones for banter and craic before a big game as all the pubs are close to the ground and the atmosphere is brilliant. Casement Park does'nt have this. I usually arrive in Clones at 11 a.m and mingle with supporters for an hour or two before the minor match. I meet all kinds of good friendly G.A.A. people and know in advance where they will be. I would be on first name terms with many rival supporters from meeting them annually. I would'nt get that in Belfast.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 31/10/2008 11:54:33    130728

From personal experiences, I prefer Clones. People mention traffic as the main negative point about Clones, but to be honest I've found Casement worse in this respect. Fair enough I live considerably closer to Clones but anytime I've gone to Casement the traffic and parking has always been a nightmare and the atmosphere has been poor. The atmosphere being poor may be down to the fact that its usually an opening round of the championship but still. I also regularly get my euro refused in the shops around it

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 31/10/2008 12:24:33    130779

Atmosphere alone would be enough for Clones to win hands down. Take the kids and her indoors to Clones now,still get a few scoops and her indoors always "volunteers" to drive home. My 2 lads love Clones,the smell of £5 burgers,the hat scarf and flag sellers,the singing and "dancing",the constant stream of people coming down the big hill. The fun of watching the south Armagh boys coming in their souped up cars complete with their straw hats,the north Armagh buses arriving at 8.30am with every single one onboard ******,or about to get ****** with a bottle of the finest house red. Give me Clones anyday!!

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1071 - 31/10/2008 12:42:43    130809

People keep talking about crime in Belfast being a put of for casement but yet nobody ever argues heading to Dublin to watch a match in Croke - Dublin is a bigger city with a higher crime rate, so please don't use crime as an excuse!!!!!!!!!!

Tir_Na_nOg (Antrim) - Posts: 210 - 31/10/2008 12:44:12    130810

Tir_na_nog

There are guards absolutely everywhere around Croke Park, Stewarts everywhere. Who polices around Casement park? Would anyone do you think try and rob the croke park officials leaving Croke park with gate takings the way they did at Casement? You are right though its not about crime or infrastructure or VAT, its plain and simple for i dont know how many times, Clones is a bigger and better stadium. I remember in 1990 being at two Armagh Down matches in ulster championship games at Casement and then the Armagh Donegal final at clones. It was even better then when on both occassions i watched the games from grass banks. this was before money was spent on either. clones is a better ground and a better venue for a big game, and most ulster people feel that way. come to think of it i would rather have Breffini park or ballybofey as well and they are further away for me.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 31/10/2008 13:01:25    130843

Tir na nOg -dublin has a higher crime rate than belfast? dont think so

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4643 - 31/10/2008 13:14:58    130865

Some lads have asked why Clones was picked as a venue for Ulster finals. It has nothing to do with Cavan being succesfull. I know you lads in the stolen six are pretty ignorant about us folks on the southern side of the border but you should know that Clones is a Monaghan town and if your down that way next summer I would advise you not to get the locals mixed up with Cavan people as you might get a sharp and sore reaction.

The main reason why Clones was picked as a venue for big GAA matches was the fact that it was one of the biggest railway junctions in the North of Ireland up until 1958. Back in the day most people traveled to matches by train and Clones was the one town that had easy access to any county in the North by train. Then when the troubles started for security reasons the final was moved to the southern side of the border and as Clones was closer to the Northern counties than Breffini and there was no pitch big enough in Donegal it got the vote.

Now since the troubles ended there has been no real reason to hold the final in Clones other than tradition, but I would think that the fact that you get charged VAT on gate receipts in the North would probably be a factor.

The Hunter (None) - Posts: 22 - 31/10/2008 13:20:06    130875