The ground 's location in a republican neighbourhood saw incidents during the Troubles which contributed to unionist perception of the GAA as pro-republican . Rallies against the introduction of internment were held on 12 September 1971 and 19 March 1972 . It was occupied by the British Army from Operation Motorman on 31 July 1972 until October 1973 . Provisional IRA members displayed weapons at a rally there in August 1979 . In March 1988 , two Army corporals who drove into a republican funeral cortège were interrogated in Casement Park before being shot on nearby waste ground . Anniversaries of the 1981 hunger strike were marked by rallies at the stadium in 2001 and 2006 , against the wishes of the GAA Central Council
two Army corporals
Corporals killings
Casement Park