The Battle for Lower Botanic Field 

By Sean Colligan

A decision on whether or not GAA facilities will be approved in ‘The Field’—or Lower Botanic Gardens in full—has been delayed, following intense debate among Belfast City councillors. The move for a new pitch is the subject of much controversy among local residents, with currently over 2,500 signatures on a petition urging the rejection of these plans [1]. The site hosts a community garden area co-designed by Queen’s University Belfast and community organisation Friends of the Field, forming a “natural wildflower meadow” and a “cherished place of beauty, respite and relaxation” in the words of local resident Catherine Hayward. She believes that a “win-win compromise is wishful thinking” and that it is not possible for even the smallest size of a pitch to co-exist without destroying the “species-rich area.” [2] This is despite the words of councillors like the SDLP’s Gary McKeown and Sinn Féin’s Conor McKay, both advocates of a shared sporting and nature space, with the latter calling for “everyone to work together to find a solution” [3]. 

A key cause of consternation among local residents, as represented in groups like the Stranmillis Neighbourhood Association, has been the fact that the Council initially approved the plans without any sort of public consultation. Apparently, it was conducted under ‘restricted business’, which Hayward states is the Council “avoiding transparency or accountability.” [4] This comes as they have also already approved the planned reversion of Boucher Playing Fields into two full-sized GAA pitches [5]. While admittedly there is a problem in the wider Belfast area with a lack of facilities for local clubs, surely the sacrifice of the city’s biggest outdoor concert venue is big enough of a concession without going as far as to now trample on areas of conservation? Important as it is to improve sporting provisions, especially for young people, this should not come at the cost of the bulldozing of a rare green space against the wishes of local residents. 

Furthermore, the site itself is part of an EU-funded project, along with the European cities of Breda, Budapest, Katowice and Maribor, investigating the “practical implementation for regenerative development of cities” in the wider fight against climate change [6]. In this day and age, the fact that the participation of Belfast in this essential project is in contention at all is a disgrace—especially when this cherished area is an important site for climate research and wildlife. While usually issues surrounding GAA infrastructure have naturally fallen into tribalism, as we’ve seen with the debacle over funding for Casement Park and the impact that has had on its bid as a host venue for the Euros, as someone from a nationalist background I don’t think this is an issue that should be fought along sectarian lines. It is a green issue, not a green and orange one. The conduct of Belfast City Council in failing to act transparently should see these plans opposed on principle, let alone the damage it could do to the biodiversity of the surrounding area. 

In a world where Lough Neagh, which supplies 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water is rapidly becoming poisonous from algae [7],  and that NI is now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world according to the State of Nature partnership [8], we must fight for every parcel of good, green land left that hasn’t been bulldozed over. All empty-hearted platitudes and appeals to an unfeasible compromise by the toxic political class must be opposed, and the status of Lower Botanic Field ultimately should be up to the people who live, work, and play in the surrounding area, not to the councillors who hoped to bypass the court of public opinion by hurrying the decision along in smoke-filled rooms. While the GAA is an important institution across the island of Ireland, and Stormont should make every effort to prioritise the sporting and leisure needs of the entire population of Northern Ireland, it, nor any sort of organisation or enterprise, must not be prioritised over the natural land. The wishes of those who most care for the last bits of green expanse unravaged by polluting concrete jungle must be respected and acknowledged, not ignored in the hopes that they might relent and give in if nobody bothers to tell them what’s going to happen to the sanctuary they cultivate. Let them have Boucher, but the battle for Botanic must go on. 

References 

1. Hayward, Catherine. “Save Botanic Meadow, Belfast”. Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/save-botanic-meadow-belfast 

2. Hayward, Catherine. https://www.change.org/p/save-botanic-meadow-belfast 

3. McParland, Conor. “Council delays decision over GAA pitch for Botanic after community garden concerns”. Belfast Media Group. 6^th March 2026. https://belfastmedia.com/council-mulls-over-gaa-pitch-for-botanic-after-community-garden-communication-concerns 

4. Hayward, Catherine. https://www.change.org/p/save-botanic-meadow-belfast 

5. Simpson, Mark. “Boucher Road Playing Fields to stop hosting music events.” BBC News. 6^th February 2026.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9r9nwvljeo 

6. “The project.” Upsurge Project. https://upsurge-project.eu/index.html%3Fp=178.html 

7. “Lough Neagh Blue-Green Algae.” NI Water. https://www.niwater.com/about-your-water/bga 

8. “Northern Ireland.” State of Nature. https://stateofnature.org.uk/countries/northern-ireland/