Sir, – If the “Garthering” is to be cancelled, perhaps the President should intervene and ensure that Brooks is made to feel welcome in Ireland in the future. I propose rescheduling the concerts to take place around Easter 2016. – Yours, etc,
NIALL McARDLE,
Wellington Street,
Eganville, Ontario.
Sir, – The Labour Party won 122,000 first-preference votes in the recent local elections. Some 400,000 tickets have been sold for the Croke Park gigs. Maybe Joan Burton should spend two days talking to Garth Brooks, rather than Enda Kenny. She might find there’s more votes to be had in the “country and western” regions. – Yours, etc,
CONAN DOYLE,
Pococke Lower,
Kilkenny.
Sir, – While the cancellation of all five Garth Brooks concerts must come as an undeniable disappointment to hundreds of thousands of people, this debacle has had a silver lining – the refusal of the authorities to compromise on the procedures laid down to determine the granting or refusal of such licenses. A event that was “too big to fail” was created, and an assumption made that its holding would be facilitated by Official Ireland simply because the alternative was too disruptive, too damaging, to be contemplated. By standing by their decision, albeit that it had unfortunate consequences, the relevant officials have demonstrated that they will not be bullied by well-orchestrated PR campaigns into ratifying what should not have been ratified.
If our event-licensing system is somehow not fit for the purpose of holding such large events, then this matter should be dealt with by way of legislative reform and not presenting decision-makers with a ready-made disaster. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN FITZPATRICK,
Kerrymount Rise,
Foxrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – It’s no small wonder that Garth Brooks feels unwelcome in Ireland. Perhaps the iconic country star could tour the UK, where his significant fan base would guarantee him a warm reception. – Yours, etc,
FRANK GREANEY,
Lonsdale Road,
Formby,
Liverpool.