Ulster GAA recently hosted the first meeting of the newly-formed Casement Park Community Engagement and Benefits Forum.
The group is made up of a range of people from West Belfast and surrounding areas, and has been set up to help shape the sporting, economic and cultural opportunities during the construction and delivery of the new stadium.
The forum aims to bring to life the "many socio-economic and cultural opportunities that the new stadium will provide for West Belfast and the wider region."
A spokesperson said: "Members of the forum come from a range of community and professional backgrounds and have a broad skillset that will help to establish and deliver a community wealth building programme which will create social value from construction through to completion and beyond.
"The Forum will be an important catalyst to ignite the exciting opportunities that Casement Park offers, by working closely with local organisations and the wider community to unlock the stadium’s full potential.
"The areas of expertise within the Forum include education and skills, social enterprise, culture, arts, tourism, economic development and sport."
At the launch event, which was held at the recently redeveloped St. Comgall’s Community Centre in West Belfast, Ulster GAA updated forum members on the current work of the project team as they prepare for the construction phase of stadium.
In the coming weeks the group will establish workstreams and sub-groups to advance key elements of the project’s plans.
Welcoming the first meeting of the Forum, Casement Park Project Board Chairperson Tom Daly said: “We are delighted to have established the Community Engagement and Benefits Forum which will play a very important role in unlocking the full potential of the Casement Park project.
"There has been significant interest to participate in this important initiative and I would like to thank everyone who was been in touch with us.
“We are excited by the knowledge and expertise that there is within the Forum and we are looking forward to closely with the team to realise the considerable potential of the Casement Park project for the entire community.
“Participation and inclusivity will be at the heart of our community engagement, and through the Forum, a series of programmes and events will be developed, working with a range of organisations to deliver Casement’s vision of a seven day a week community hub supporting the social, economic and cultural development of the local area.”
