Boucher Road GAA and football pitches move pushed through by nationalists: Surprise move to see site used for sports by 2028, though council will look for other big concert venues
Nationalists have pushed though a controversial move to build GAA and soccer pitches on Belfast’s Boucher Road playing fields, which Sinn Fein has previously claimed will end major-league concerts there.
Just days after the city council voted to delay a decision so they could seek more information about its impact on Belfast’s music scene and tourism economy, the News Letter understands nationalists effectively overturned it with a surprise move today.
At a meeting that was due to approve rates for the next financial year, Sinn Fein councillors also brought a motion to push ahead with building two GAA pitches and one intermediate football pitch on the site.
The News Letter understands unionists and Alliance were against the idea, but it was voted through by other parties.
In a press statement issued tonight, a Sinn Fein politician said it was “fantastic” that the Boucher Road pitches plan “has been given the green light”.
Councillor Natasha Brennan added: “This will be particularly welcomed by Gaels in the city, who have had to contend with underinvestment and a lack of provision for decades.”
During Monday night’s debate that voted to postpone a decision, Sinn Fein claimed any delay amounted to anti-GAA discrimination and maintained it would be impossible to stage large-scale concerts on Boucher Road GAA grounds, as they would be busy all summer with sports fixtures.
The motion agreed today will check into other potential venues for staging large-scale gigs, but that will include whether or not Boucher Road could be used as a joint venue for music and sports.
Ms Brennan seemed to suggest concerts will go elsewhere, however, stating that due to the 2028 timeframe “there will also be sufficient time to find an alternative venue to continue hosting large-scale events in the city, safeguarding the social, economic and cultural benefits they bring”.
A Belfast City Council spokesman confirmed the move passed, adding a report on concert venues is to be ready within two months.
Monday’s meeting saw the DUP and Alliance both in favour of postponing a decision. The DUP felt Boucher could be a joint venue, while Alliance was concerned officials hadn’t worked out where major gigs could happen instead. Their idea of delaying passed by a narrow margin of two votes; the breakdown of today’s vote isn’t yet known.