If only unionists had the influence ascribed to them by their opponents. Since last Friday, when the British government withdrew a funding pledge for Belfast’s Casement Park GAA stadium, fingers have pointed at unionism in general and the DUP in particular for somehow scuppering the project.

“Sectarianism is sadly a reason as to why Casement won’t be built,” tweeted Border poll campaign group Ireland’s Future, without further elaboration. Suspicion has not been confined to nationalism. An Alliance MLA was among those to accuse DUP sports minister Gordon Lyons of encouraging London’s decision by “dragging his feet”.

Much of this reaction appears to have been provoked by a sense of unionists enjoying Casement’s setback. In Northern Ireland politics, as in sport, few things are as enraging as the gloating of the other team’s supporters. Some unionists are openly delighted and most will be indifferent at best. An opinion poll last year found just 12 per cent of unionists backed the then Conservative government’s plan to host Euro 2028 matches in a rebuilt Casement Park. That does not mean unionists caused the plan to fall through.

Sinn Féin has been clear the fault lies with London. Although the DUP has no love for Casement, it has........

© The Irish Times