Concerns are growing that this summer's series of five Garth Brooks concerts in Croke Park could be in danger as local residents are preparing to launch a high court injunction if licences are granted, as will likely be the case.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, a recent meeting between a Croke Park residents' association, Aiken Promotions and the GAA descended into a near chaos after it was brought up that an agreement was signed in 2009 which stated that no more than three concerts will take place per year at Croke Park.
The Telegraph states that stadium director Peter McKenna told the room that "times move on", which apparently didn't go down too well with the crowd.
Eamon O'Brien, chairman of the Croke Park Streets Committee, was quoted by the same source as saying: "there was uproar when [McKenna] said it." Patrick Gates, also of the Croke Park Streets Committee, stated that this was the most irate meeting he had attended between Croke Park, the GAA and the residents.
This year a total of nine concerts at Croke Park have been announced so far - well in excess of the agreed three - and the Garth Brooks tickets have been sold "subject to licence", meaning that the concerts could still potentially in danger of being cancelled.
Mr. Gates told the Irish Independent that the residents are considering all their options, including injuctions and protests. He added: "People are really, really angry and irate. We feel they have contempt for the residents and that Croke Park has broken agreement after agreement with the residents. The level of anger, frustration and disgust with Croke Park/GAA at the way they went about announcing the Garth Brooks concerts was palpable."
Almost 400,000 tickets have been sold to the series of five Garth Brooks gigs this summer and we can only guess what'll happen in the midlands if these concerts are pulled.
