Christy Moore concert organisers warn against buying tickets through Viagogo

The organisers of a Christy Moore concert in Cork next summer have warned people not to buy tickets for the concert on the Viagogo website.

Tickets for the concert are selling on the controversial secondary ticketing site for as much as €349 but fans have been warned against buying them, with the concert promoter saying it has no way of knowing if the tickets are legitimate, forgeries, or if they even exist.

"It has come to our attention that tickets have been advertised on Viagogo for Christy Moore's Live at the Marquee Show in Cork on 25th June 2022," Aiken Promotions said in a statement.

The statement pointed out that the concert has sold out, adding that it did not know “if these tickets are genuine or if the tickets as advertised exist”.

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It said that “to avoid disappointment we reiterate our advice to fans not to purchase tickets on any secondary sites. Avoid disappointment please book tickets only via official outlets.”

Secondary ticketing websites allow individuals to resell tickets at whatever price they wish however the platforms have frequently been used by ticket touts to sell tickets to sought-after events at vastly inflated prices.

Concerns about the manner in which consumers were being exploited prompted the Government to introduce legislation outlawing the sale or advertising for sale of tickets or ticket packages at above face value.

It was signed into law earlier this summer despite objections from Viagogo which claimed the law was unconstitutional.

Subsequent the Aiken statement, Viagogo issued a statement on Friday in which it said the company provided a safe and secure platform that people could use to buy and sell tickets, “which is particularly helpful when an event is sold out”.

It said it provides guarantees with regard to the validity of the tickets and access to the event in question.

In relation to the Christy Moore concert, it said: “It is not illegal for tickets to be resold in Ireland. This only applies to designated venues which this venue is not.

“Viagogo does not set ticket prices, these are set by the people who use the platform to resell their tickets. It is made clear that prices may be listed as higher or lower than the face value, depending on demand, so that all users are aware of this fact prior to their purchase.

Tickets that are listed at unreasonable prices get the most media attention but rarely, if ever, sell. Face value resale is legal for all events in Ireland and above face value only is illegal for designated events/venues.”