Belfast City Council voted through measures which will involve searching for locations for a new open-air concert venue
A plan for two new GAA pitches and a soccer pitch at Boucher Road Playing Fields will go ahead, after Belfast Council voted through measures which will involve searching for locations for a new large-scale open venue.
At a special meeting of the full Belfast City Council at City Hall on Friday, February 13, a Green Party proposal was passed, supported by Sinn Féin, the SDLP and People Before Profit, with the DUP, Alliance, the UUP and TUV in opposition. The recorded vote showed 32 elected members in favour, to 24 in opposition.
The successful Green Party amendment states: “This council is committed to bring forward a new Pitches Strategy in March 2026 to address the current significant gaps in pitch provision across Belfast, improve existing facilities and increase use of other pitches through better partnership working with other organisations in the city.
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“In light of particular challenges around the provision of GAA pitches, this council will agree to the provision of new GAA pitches within this Pitches Strategy as a priority. This will include the use of Boucher Road Playing Fields with Belfast City Council installing two GAA pitches, an intermediate soccer pitch and small sided games pitches at this facility.”
It adds: “The council acknowledges the potential conflict with the site’s existing use as the largest venue for major concerts and events in Belfast, and recognises the importance of ensuring to maintain a site that is capable of hosting on a similar or greater scale going forward, with appropriate supporting facilities and infrastructure.
“We commit to working with the large-scale events sector, statutory partners and local stakeholders to identify and assess suitable alternative sites around the city, or the potential for managing both within the Boucher Road Playing Fields site.”
A report is to be brought back exploring options within two months. The proposal adds: “The council will also prioritise proposed soccer pitches that may be eligible for external funding plans processes, as and when application periods open.”
This large-scale events element of the proposal will include consideration of locations such as Ormeau Park, the Titanic Slipways, and the former Sirocco Works site, without “limiting the scope” to these options.
The decision means Belfast is likely to lose its current largest outdoor concert venue at Boucher Playing Fields, which has a capacity of 40,000. Known for hosting massive concerts and festivals like Belfast Vital, the Fields have hosted A listers such as Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher, The Killers, Sam Fender, and Eminem.
This has not come without controversy, and locals have been airing their grievances for years about the disruption created by the big live events. The Fields have hosted large gigs since 2010, and while a huge source of income to the city economy, are an ongoing source of upset to neighbours.
Every summer South Belfast councillors have warned of disruption and logistical challenges for residents during the summer season of big concerts. In 2024 the council set up a “Social Value Fund” to be allocated to those local communities beside Boucher Road Playing Fields who felt adverse effects from large concerts.
In June 2022 Boucher Fields were confirmed to remain a venue for music gigs and other events, when its entertainment licence was renewed, despite complaints and objections from local residents. Two months later Belfast council announced extra residential security to protect residents around the Playing Fields gigs after people were left “traumatised” in their homes after an Ed Sheeran concert.
Sinn Féin Councillor Ciaran Beattie said at the meeting: “If you see the commentary from residents (close to Boucher Road Playing Fields), they feel like prisoners in their own homes. Anyone who speaks to residents that live around there, they don’t like it.”
He added: “There is a massive problem that this site causes, and the communities around it feel it. So it is not only about addressing the sporting issues, it is about addressing the community issues, the people who are feeling the negative effect of this.
“It is okay to live five or ten miles away from this and think it is a great idea, but go and speak to the residents. Go and knock on a couple of doors and you will see what their opinions are.”
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