Brooks’ cancellation of concerts deeply disappointing for fans - Costello

8 July 2014

by Cllr Joe Costello

The announcement by Aiken Promotions that Garth Brooks has cancelled the three concerts in Croke Park, for which he had been granted a licence by Dublin City Council, is deeply disappointing for the quarter of a million fans who had bought tickets for the concerts.  It is also a severe blow to the Dublin economy and to the tourist industry, which had expected a large influx of visitors to the country. 

It is difficult to understand why Mr. Brooks made the decision to have no concerts at all, when he was refused only two of the five consecutive concerts sought on the grounds that more than three would be “unacceptable” and “unprecedented.”  His determination to have “five or none” smacks of petulance and arrogance, with scant regard for his paying fans. 

The lessons from the debacle are costly to all concerned.  All the stakeholders, including in particular the Government, the local community and the GAA, must now sit down together to ensure that a permanent solution is found for non-sporting events in Croke Park.  Never again should a potentially good news story become such a disaster for the country and its reputation.