A bird’s eye view of the Titanic fanzone in Belfast for the Euro 2016 Republic and Northern Ireland games
THERE are problems over the availability for the two fanzone sites across the North for the upcoming Irish games.
Fans have so far been enjoying the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland qualifier games on big screens at Waterloo Place in Foyle.
And up to 15,000 people have been packing into the Titanic area of Belfast to watch the teams heroic performances to reach the last 16 of the competition.
Now problems have arisen over the availability for the sites for this weekend’s big matches.
Titanic Belfast is not available this Saturday for the Northern Ireland v Wales clash because of the Belsonic concerts.
Waterloo Place is also not available for this game and also the Republic’s clash with France on Sunday afternoon.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness says there are difficulties with securing a fanzone venue in his Foyle constituency as well as Belfast.
He said: “We will do our level best to look at different options that are out there.
“We obviously will have to talk to the IFA and of course the local councils to see if we can come up with solutions.”
He says he will making the calls as soon as his plane touches down on Northern Irish soil today in an effort to get the problems sorted.
The Foyle MLA said he will also be having talks with First Minister Arlene Foster over the issue.
“”I will give my commitment that we will do our level best to look at different options that are out there and we obviously will have to talk to the IFA and of course the local councils – the Belfast council and the new Derry and Strabane council – to see if we can come up with solutions,” he said.
