Ulster GAA has announced that it is seeking a new developer for the rebuild of Casement Park but insists it can have the stadium ready for Euro 2028.
Derry-based construction firm Heron Bros had been due to finish the redevelopment of the long-derelict site in west Belfast alongside English company the Buckingham Group. But the Buckingham Group's collapse meant Ulster GAA had to decide if Heron Bros could proceed with the work alone, and it has now decided that modifying the initial contract is not feasible.
As well as becoming the biggest Gaelic games venue in Ulster, a 34,578 capacity Casement Park is among the venues for the 2028 European Football Championship, which will be co-hosted by the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
The stadium has been unused since 2013 but last year a legal challenge against a decision to grant planning approval for the redevelopment was dismissed and earlier this month owners Antrim GAA said it was hopeful of games being at the venue by 2025. Ulster GAA had previously said it expected construction work to start in early 2024.
The rising cost of the rebuild is now estimated at between £110m and £160m, up from the £77m budgeted for in 2013. The GAA has insisted it cannot afford more than its original £15m contribution but, in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive, the UK government has indicated funding will be available, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also said his government would be willing to contribute financially.
The scale of public money required has attracted criticism from some soccer fans and politicians in the North, who believe it should not be in excess of what was granted for the redevelopment of Ulster Rugby's Ravenhill and the Irish Football Association's redevelopment of Windsor Park, and that the GAA should contribute more.
However, the IFA does not see the expansion of the 18,500 Windsor Park to the 30,000 required to host major tournament games as a realistic proposition, and believes the Casement Park project is the only route for Northern Ireland to host Euros games in five years' time.
The statement from Ulster GAA said that it "today advises that Heron Bros Limited, our long-standing construction contractor, will not proceed to deliver the main works contract for the new Casement
Park.
"We are working closely with our partners in the Department for Communities (DfC) to progress procurement of a contractor using recognised frameworks for major construction projects.
"We are determined and confident that construction work will commence in line with the timelines required to host the UEFA EURO Championships in 2028. Ulster GAA is bringing forward critical aspects of the construction programme to progress the project, at pace, during the process to secure a new main contractor in the coming months, including site clearance and a range of enabling works packages.
"Heron Bros Limited participated fully in a recent due diligence exercise following its JV partner, Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd, falling into administration and demonstrated their capacity and capability to bring this project forward. It has become clear that the restrictions of the Public Contract Regulations prevent Ulster GAA from pursuing its preferred option of retaining and modifying the existing contract for the project.
"Ulster GAA sincerely thanks Heron Bros Limited for its commitment to this project and its work over the past ten years. In particular, we want to highlight the work undertaken with the local community in other connected projects, including the Casement Park Social Club."
A Department for Communities Northern Ireland spokesperson said: "We are progressing the options that are available via existing procurement frameworks for major construction projects with pre-qualified contractors, providing an effective delivery model for the project going forward.
"We remain fully committed to the delivery of this flagship project, which is uniquely placed to boost the development of both Gaelic games and football, as well as offering long-term economic and social benefits in Northern Ireland and beyond.
"We are continuing to work closely with the UCGAA and all our partners across government, local government and the IFA (Irish Football Association) to ensure delivery in line with the Uefa requirements for the hosting of Euro 2028 matches in Northern Ireland."
