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Jack Anderson: Whatever Casement Park emerges, it’s to be welcome

Work at last begins this week on Casement Park, marking a significant 20-year anniversary.

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026 - 07:10

Jack Anderson is a professor of sports law and global expert in governance, and regulation. He advises sporting bodies and contributes widely to public debate – as well as being a Limerick hurling supporter.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill announced that work at last begins this week on Casement Park. Symbolically, it’s exactly 20 years since BBC NI got an exclusive peek at plans to regenerate the Maze prison site outside Belfast. The Maze’s infamous H-blocks were officially opened in 1976. The plan in 2006 was to demolish them, raze the site and build a 45,000-capacity stadium that would, as agreed in principle, satisfy the needs of the GAA, the IFA and Ulster rugby.

Fuelled by the goodwill of the post-Belfast Agreement era (plus British taxpayer and EU money), the idea was not just to build a stadium but also a conflict transformation centre; a 5,000-seat indoor arena; an international exhibition centre, equestrian showgrounds; as well as the ubiquitous hotel; cafés and multi-screen cinema (British and Irish town planners are united in their love of movies).

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