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Council agrees to install sports pitches at Boucher Road Playing Fields

Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
News imageBBC A picture taken from the crowd of three screens showing Bruce Springsteen playing on stage. Springsteen has short grey hair and is singing into a mic, he is wearing a white shirt, black tie and waistcoat.BBC
Bruce Springsteen rocked the Boucher Road Playing Fields in 2024

The future of Belfast's largest outdoor music venue remains uncertain after Belfast City Council agreed to install new sports pitches at Boucher Road Playing Fields.

The site is set to be redeveloped with a new football pitch and two new Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) pitches.

Boucher Road Playing Fields has capacity for up to 40,000 people and has previously hosted gigs by Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol, but it is still unclear whether it will remain a music venue after 2027.

Council officials are set to explore alternative music venue locations in Belfast, and the possibility of Boucher hosting both sporting and music events has also not been ruled out.

News imageA large pop up stage outside. It has two speakers on either side and two large screens displaying images of Irish rap trio Kneecap who are performing. A large number of people are gathered for the gig and many of them are holding their hands in the air.
Irish rap trio Kneecap performed at the Belfast venue last August

Councillors at BCC have spent the past week debating the issue.

Most councillors want the site returned to sporting use, but there has been disagreement over whether to wait until an alternative venue for large-scale music events has been found.

On Monday it was decided to put a decision over the future of Boucher Playing Fields on hold, but then on Friday morning, a council committee voted 10-9 in favour of new sports pitches.

The matter then went before the full council for ratification on Friday night.

News imageA large pop up stage outside. It is in the process of being assembled. To the right is a large blue and yellow tent. In front of the stage is a grey flooring system. There is a blue crane completing work on the stage.
The playing fields can stage concerts for up to 40,000 people

The Green Party's Áine Groogan proposed an amendment, which was eventually passed with support from Sinn Féin and the SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party).

The amendment agreed to the proposed three new pitches at Boucher and also addressed the issue of large-scale music events.

It stated: "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 we maintain a site that is capable of hosting on a similar or indeed 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 across the city or the potential for managing both within the Boucher Road Playing Fields.

"A report will be brought back on these options within two months."

News imageA large green tractor and brown crates sitting on green grass. The crates have advertising on their front. Trees and the corner of a stage are in the background.
The Farmers Bash was held at Boucher Road Playing Fields last August

Concerts scheduled for Boucher Road Playing Fields this year and next will still go ahead, but it is not clear what will happen from 2028 onwards.

There is a shortage of council-owned sports pitches in Belfast.

Sinn Féin councillor Natasha Brennan said: "It is fantastic that Boucher Road has been given the green light to transform into a first-class sporting hub."

However, Alliance Party councillor Micky Murray, said the council should have waited until more information was available about the provision of large-scale music events before making a decision.

Attention will now focus on what the forthcoming council report says about the options for music venues.

It is due to be completed before the end of April.