Everything Ulster - Election 2005

HENRY McDonald, the Observer's Ireland corrspeondent, is writing a weekly column in Belfast's new paper, the Daily View. This week he wrote an article attacking the NIO's decision that the Maze/Long Kesh site was the 'only viable option' for Northern Ireland's new national stadium.

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Henry McDonald joins a list of people sceptical of the idea that a stadium built in such an isolated location could ever be a success. He mentions the Stadium 4 Belfast campaign which he says puts forward a "rational case" regarding the location of the new stadium.

Michael McGimpsey (UUP, South Belfast MLA & Westminster candidate) is the only local politician I can find on record in the press as supporting the idea.

"My preference has always been the Titanic Quarter. We would only need 12 acres of land there and we could create the equivalent to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, only a lot smaller. That's the place for it and I don't think there's any justification for shoving it out to the Maze. That's my own view based on my experiences as Sports Minister."

Newsletter, 26th February

I haven't heard anything from McGimpsey since though, and I've written to him twice! However, Belfast's Lord Mayor, Tom Ekin (Alliance) has responded to a letter, stating that he is strongly in favour of a Stadium for Belfast and is still looking at options (good to see he's not giving up).

It's just a pity it's taken the local media so long to realise that what was going on was such a horrible mistake. I just hope it's not too late.