Final decision on Garth Brooks concerts expected tomorrow

A final decision is expected tomorrow on whether country star Garth Brooks will play any concerts in Croke Park this month. Talks were ongoing over the weekend between the artist and promoter Peter Aiken to try to resolve the impasse which arose last week after Dublin City Council refused licences for two of the five gigs planned for the stadium in three weeks time. Brooks has said he would perform all five concerts in Croke Park or none at all. More than 400,000 tickets have been sold for the concerts.

Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke and chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey were also working over the weekend to try and achieve a resolution. Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan is expected to come under pressure to reverse his decision at tonight's council meeting, although the council has said the licensing decision "cannot be amended or appealed".

While several residents groups had welcomed the council’s decision and others had called on Mr Keegan to cancel all concerts, a group living close to Croke Park held a rally yesterday calling for licences to be given for all five concerts.

The group, Ballybough Residents Supporting Croke Park, said concerts at the stadium created much-needed local employments which far outweighed any disruption. “It’s only five nights, and for those nights the young teenagers here get jobs at the stadium, at the bars and the hot dog stands,” local resident Lorraine Gavin said. “These kids get money in their pockets and get something to do.”

Paul Dixon, spokesman for the group, who also lives in the area, said he supported the conclusion reached by Mr Mulvey that the concerts should be allowed to go ahead this year, with a reduced number of events over the next two years and a community fund to be put in place.

“One of the big problems was the failure of people to agree and the number of different groups Mr Mulvey had to deal with. There needs to be one group set up as the recognised residents’ group that deals with Croke Park that could have representation from all different residents’ organisations.”

Publicans are also calling for all five concerts to be given licences. The Licensed Vintners Association has written to Mr Keegan, urging him to reverse his decision. The association said the Dublin economy “simply can’t afford” to see the concerts cancelled.

It estimates that the loss of the five concerts could cost Dublin pubs as much as €15 million. The association’s chief executive, Donall O’Keeffe, said Dublin publicans were appalled at the turn of events. “This is still a very difficult economy for every business in the city and the Garth Brooks concerts promised a hugely significant financial boost for pubs and for the wider hospitality industry. ”

Meanwhile, tourism chiefs are to meet today to devise a plan to encourage the 70,000 tickets holders from outside Ireland to continue with their travel plans.

Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar has called on the heads of the Irish Hotels Federation, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to meet under the chairmanship of assistant secretary general for tourism, Ray O'Leary. Mr Varadkar has asked them to come up with promotions and events over the weekend, possibly with a country and western theme.