<p>The story of Casement Park is a metaphor for post conflict Northern Ireland.</p><p>Once there was a dream about a shining stadium on a hill, a stadium which would benefit everyone in the north when it hosted matches at the European Championships in 2028.</p><p>Two years ago, that dream ended when the British government said they would not fund the cost of the stadium which had ‘risen dramatically’ during years of obstruction and resistance.&nbsp;</p><p>The benefit to all communities of Euro 2028 was gone but for some it mattered more that a GAA stadium would not be built.&nbsp;</p><p>On Free State we look at what the ongoing battle to build Casement tells us about Northern Ireland. Gordon Lyons, the minister&nbsp;responsible, says there is a ‘funding gap’. But is the real chasm something more fundamental?</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>