The UAFC

cables wrote: As a voter in NI, I have been ‘sold a pup’ regarding a shared future.

I have always seen the potential for a ‘conflict and resolution centre’ being used by Republicans as propaganda but I have not previously stated so.

I now add another ‘against’ box to my originally ‘rugby based’ aversion to the Maze Stadium.

WTF have sheep in the Mournes got to do with this browner

browner wrote:

WTF have sheep in the Mournes got to do with this browner

Just my sense of humour Rooster................shared space and all that.

Civil servants 'block Maze plan'

Some civil servants have tried to stop the Maze stadium project, Culture Minister Edwin Poots has said.

He was speaking after Belfast City Council announced a shortlist of five potential alternative stadium sites.

Mr Poots said there had been opposition to the Maze for a long time within the corridors of power.

"There have been those within the civil service who have been opposed to the project at the Maze right from its conception," he said.

"I would have to say that a lot of the work being done within the civil service has been to stop it, and that has been the case both before devolution and during devolution.

"Ultimately, members are going to have to make up their minds on this issue."

Last month, it emerged that the projected cost of building a stadium at the former Maze prison site was thought to be substantially higher than its reported £100m price tag.

One source told the BBC the cost was at least tens of millions of pounds higher.

The site for a national stadium in Northern Ireland has divided political opinion.

Sinn Féin has said the party will not support the idea unless it is on the site of the former Maze Prison.

However, some unionists oppose the Maze site because of plans for a conflict transformation centre at the stadium.

The Gaelic Athletic Association, Irish Football Association and Ulster Rugby have all confirmed they would play games at the Maze venue.

East Belfast stadium is planned

A business group headed by Glentoran president David Chick has revealed plans for a new 10,000-seat stadium at Tillysburn in east Belfast.

It is understood the proposal is for the ground to be used by Glentoran and another Irish Premier League club.

There are suggestions the capacity could be increased to allow the venue to stage Northern Ireland matches.

Chick is reported to have bought some of the land required but needs an adjoining City Council-owned site.

First Division club Harland & Wolf Welders are believed to have sold out to the business consortium after assurances that they would still be able to play at Tillysburn.

The proposals could face planning obstacles and the need to improve roads in the area, but the plan is for the staduim to become a reality within three years.

Chick, a former chairman of the IFA's senior clubs committee, said the ground could be an alternative for internationals if Northern Ireland moved from Windsor Park and plans for a new national stadium at the Maze near Lisburn fell through.

"My idea was to build a stadium to complement the Maze, not to compete," he told Sunday Life.

"The goalposts seem to be moving now in relation to the Maze but we are pressing on with our original plan to build a 10,000-seat stadium at Tillysburn.

"If a decision goes against the Maze, we would hopefully be in a position to respond by increasing our capacity."

Big-al wrote:when is this bloody stadium going to be ready for, its turned into a politics thing.

Anyway i would like it to be at the maze as i wouldn't have to drive into Belfast and I have to go down the M1 so its a lot shorter for me saying i live in Mid-ulster