A major concert promoter has refused to comment on its plans to stage a series of outdoor events at Marlay Park in Dublin next month on dates which coincide with concert dates already scheduled for Smithfield.
MCD would not comment on speculation that there had been a change of venue for concerts by international stars Van Morrison, David Gray and Sting. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council confirmed it had received an application from MCD to run "events" at Marlay Park in Rathfarnham but a spokesman said he could not confirm what those events were or when a decision would be made on whether to grant the licence.
Dublin Corporation was taken by surprise by the reports yesterday. A spokesman said it had not heard from MCD and still expected the Smithfield concerts to go ahead as planned.
MCD is hosting concerts by Van Morrison, Sting and David Gray between July 19th and 25th but would not comment on whether concerts by these artists are the "events" referred to in the application to the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Up to 9,000 people attended concerts by the Buena Vista Social Club and the Manic Street Preachers in Smithfield last month as part of the Heineken Green Energy festival, although the events raised the concerns of some local residents.
Dublin Corporation charges a fee of £5,000 for each such event and anticipates a payment of £25,000 for the five July concerts. MCD must also pay the cost of cleaning up the area after the concerts.
David Gray is scheduled to play the recently refurbished public space on July 19th, 20th and 21st, with Van Morrison set to play on the 22nd. Sting is booked to play on July 25th. All of these events were still being promoted as Smithfield concerts on MCD's website yesterday.
Minister of State Mr Tom Kitt, who lives at Pine Valley near Marlay Park, said his understanding was that the planned events would be restricted to an attendance of 12,000, which is significantly fewer people than attend an annual family day at the park.
He was concerned, however, that there should be discussions with local residents' groups prior to any concerts being staged at Marlay Park, which he said was a "special local amenity" situated beside a "highly populated suburban area".
Ms Angela Corcoran, chairwoman of the Pine Valley residents' association, said 12,000 was "not a huge number" of people for a concert at the park, but if necessary the residents' association would contact the Garda to ask that access to certain areas be restricted to residents during the concerts.