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Updated 5.46pm
THE RESIDENTS OF Croke Park say they are willing to facilitate the Garth Brooks gigs.
Eamon O’Brian, chairman of the Croke Park Streets Committee, told TheJournal.ie that “if concerts go ahead it has to be on the back of a binding agreement” between the community and the stadium.
“We’re just in favour of what An Bord Pleanála has stated”, he said, and they are still opposed to any of the gigs going ahead, but that they are willing to negotiate.
You have a situation where lives are threatened, you have a situation where communities are divided.
In a statement today the group said that they were willing to consider a new direction to end the row that has seen the country music megastar cancel five gigs at GAA HQ.
“The officers of the Croke Park Community and Handball Centre have deliberated on the ongoing crisis surrounding the proposed Garth Brooks concerts.
In the interest of all the Croke Park communities we are prepared to consider a new direction with a view to facilitating the holding of the Garth Brooks concerts.
They say that Lord Mayor Christy Burke has been told of their stance as he prepares to meet Dublin City Council Chief Executive Owen Keegan. Reports today suggest that meeting may not have taken place.
“The Lord Mayor Christy Burke, who has been a central figure in the negotiations, has agreed to bring this latest development to the attention of the various parties involved.”
Additional reporting by Nicky Ryan. Originally published 3.13pm
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Officers of the handball centre! When will this farce end?
I believe the pigeon club are still complaining.
The embarrassment!
Yeah and as for the Tiddley Winks Guild……I heard they’re going spare!!
Honestly even Father Ted wouldnt be this stupid.
“Careful now”
The parish committee are still on the beer and are not available for comment
We look like such a joke- after all this fuss.. “Irish residents change their mind ‘ara sure go on then!’”
I wish I was an eskimo
Owen keegan is the man at fault. He knew last January there was 5 gigs planned, yet he made his decision 2 WEEKS before the gigs were to be held. If Aiken were in breach of licensing laws, then WTF has keegan and Dublin city council been doing for the last 6 months? Why didn’t they inform people when Aiken put his licence application in last April??
They wait until 70,000 people book flights into the country from overseas then drop this bombshell. A bigger bunch of clowns you could not find.
No Joey. You wish you WERE an Eskimo.
The original residents ballot had a load of bogus forgery signatures that’s why one con can ruin it for everyone this is Ireland after all.
You missed a trick there….I heard they were flipping out!!
Is there anything to be said for another mass??? A bit of an auld pray should sort it out, Fr Ted style.
Oh seriously…. ZZZZzzzzz YAWN!!! Beginning to think this is some sort of publicity stunt at this stage, I’ve tickets for the Sun nite and I’m tempted to just shred them!
No Joe. Aitken should have known if he was in breach – and he did!
Ah here I have a pain in my rocks with this… Just call it to FCUK!!!
Not as much time spent by “the powers that be” sorting out a proper hospital for our sick children… or sorting out our homeless problems or the fact that this country is run by big business who will call the shots when they are not happy by decisions made by institutions of the state…!!!
My message to Garth Brook$ is to FCUK off back on his little boat to the US of A that he hasnt bothered leaving in the last 18 years until now because he’s broke…!!!!
Terry, Broke?? He is worth around $200 million dollars according to Rolling stone!
Are sure that Father Dougal isn’t to blame for this whole mess?
Being worth $200 million is a lot different than having $200 million.
Being worth $200 million is a lot different to not being worth 2 bob
Me too Lorraine, so sick of it at this stage, they say any publicity is good publicity, Garth Brooks must be laughing all the way to the bank at us!!!
Inuit.
maybe this is why the Garth Brooks story is so popular…deflection at its best!
It’s incredible that some people can be so ignorant and make totally false accusations without checking their facts. Aiken submitted his licensing applications very late, in April as you note. Then, in accordance with the rules, Dublin City Council was required to engage in a statutory period of consultation. They received over 220 submissions from members of the public, most of which presumably opposed the holding of some or all of the concerts. That is why the final decision could only be made recently. It is also why it would have been entirely inappropriate for DCC to give any indication of its decision last April, before it had heard submissions from the public. Aiken is entirely to blame for the late submission and thus the late decision.
He’s obviously just another overpaid, jobsworth
Better than a feckless chancer who would prefer the country to be ruled by gangster politicians who give in any time somebody dangles money in front of them. We’ve had enough of brown envelopes thank you. There are rules and they are there to protect individuals and minority groups from being walked over by big business. The licensing rules work absolutely fine, as Mr Demond, another promoter noted the other day.
@Joe mahon. You are completely wrong. Keegan could only comment on the situation after the application was submitted not before. If he did then aiken would complain about prejudice and lack of due process.
There are a few at fault here aiken, brooks, Christy Burke (for his Obama comment) but not keegan. Keegan followed procedure and the law.
Sean, why didn’t you mention this, “The deals saw the businessman invest €230 million to acquire the Siteserv Group, the Topaz Group and the Beacon Private Hospital.” O’Brien rescued these companies from bankruptcy and saved many jobs, probably using money he made outside of Ireland. Your cheap phone calls today are entirely on the back of men like O’Brien who broken Eircom’s rip off monopoly.
Don’t you hate clicking submit and in the same split second see a misspelling? …….. who broke Eircom’s rip off monopoly. Bring in a Edit function.
yeah, yer man Keegan is a tw@t. He made a mess of things out in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown (parking charges, vanity library project – Google it) and he’s barely in this new job and his incompetence is showing already.
william he is FGs biggest donator does that not alarm you in any way?
do you not think buying up companies on the cheap and having massive loans written off warrants inspection?
Farce is an understatement
It didn’t take them long to change their mind. Is it cynical of me to think that it’s only because they were holding out for a whole load of something, €€€, and now they are left with a whole load of nothing?
Apparently word on the ground is that this handball committee was behind the residents’ objection. There is an ongoing battle between the handball club and Croke Park and this was being used as a political football as such.
Well said sir….
The Irish people are more than happy to facilitate Garth Brooks if he obeys the rules ………
Rule 1 : He must personally deliver a bottle of Jameson whisky to Father Jack.
Rule 2 : Obey Rule 1
Do you get a yellow card if you accidently kick the ball during a game of Handball :D
Why did Aitken only put his request in April when the tickets sold out in January ? They were trying to steam roll their way through.
Ps agree the judgement should have been made earlier but no one has covered themselves in glory on this
Sean South from G….. donator? Do you mean SF?
Down with this sort of thing!
I think there is a lot to be said for another mass.
A license can only be officially granted a few weeks before. And it was discussed that the residents association would likely object. It’s Aiken’s fault alone for taking the stance of the group lightly, even if they don’t represent all residents in the area, it was known they weren’t going to take it lying down-an agreement is an agreement. Aiken could have avoided all this if he looked at other venues instead. It’s not like Ireland is short of venues.
Sean, “donator”, “arguement”? Don’t you have a spell checker? Is a donator something used to set off a bomb?
William, its you who needs the spellchecker, its a detonator that sets off a bomb. Donator is someone who donates, ya muppet !!!
Stephen, a “donor” donates.
PS Do you carry an organ “Donator” Card? Have a look.
Check your dictionary, a donator also donates, and, is in fact, the correct word in this instance
Stop please.. i cant take anymore of this sh#t
Your comments do nothing. Resistance is futile!
Its so sad and funny at the same time.
70 billion bailout rushed through government and no protest.
But a country song concert is cancelled?? STOP EVERYTHING!!
Donal
+1000
I’m starting to miss all the property stories.
I’m wondering how Lucinda Creighton is getting on.
Wait a minute, do people know pat kenny switched to newstalk?
Pat Kenny to Newstalk…would even take another story on that.
Can we get this Owen Keegan, The King of Cyclist out before he completely Frocks up the city and now the country.
How much is the pay off.
It’s on it’s off, it’s on it’s off…..aghhhh!
Reminds me of Rachel and Ross tbh
who they?
Will SOMEONE for the love of jaysus sort this debacle out, stick to the decision and MOVE ON!! Tis getting boring now!
getting?
Thats grand so . No need for planning laws they’re irrelevant .
The best Banana Republic in the world
Yeah, where gombeenism rules. Pathetic the whole “saga”.
I’ve never heard any of his songs, but the amount of useless stories on this website about him makes me hate him.
I’d never heard of him before this fiasco.
Not that I give a sh!t but it’s GARTH not GARETH!!! Ffs
Actually, it’s Girth.
Although “Garth” is his real name, he doesn’t mind being called “Gearoid O’ Brook” when he’s in Ireland, He said we can call him what we want as long as we show him the monnnneey!
There is more to this than we are getting told. I have no inside track but believe me the words “handball centre” mean something in this prolonged PR disaster.
Please explain further
Well the local residents use the handball centre bar as a local bar. The handball facilities are not world class anymore (2012 world championship held in Citywest). Gaa trying for years to redevelop the centre but residents would be without the bar, which the gaa have let them use. Hence the objection and tension from local residents…
There is a handball centre of which the lands were donated by the GAA but the Centre, according to the Constitution, is vested in Croke Park GAA Trustees who also have an obligation to protect the Centre for the members and community. Croke Park has issued an eviction notice last Feb for the Handball Centre group to vacate the building. They have offered to build a brand new centre for them but the Handball Group won’t accept. Not sure why but there was a court case earlier in the year regarding the eviction notice. Eamon O Brien who is leading the charge to block the GAA having concerts is involved on the Committee of the Handball Centre. He lives in Castleknock but is representing the residents of Croke Park Madness against the Concert group. So you end up with the perfect storm. Keegan as Dublin City Manager and hates the GAA who is 12 months in the job and has failed his first serious test, Peter Mc Kenna who is the manager of Croke Park and the most arrogant man you can meet and thinks the GAA should rule the world and this fool O Brien who wants to use the residents because he can to screw the GAA while he lives in Castleknock. And while these three unfair and unreasonable people behave in such a manner the possibility of additional revenue & employment or just people having a good nights entertainment suffers. What a disaster
Could GB do a pop-up concert in the handball centre ?
Thought exactly the same thing when I read that.
GAA a bit like the Mafia?…….
As Mary O’Rourke said to John Bowman on questions and answers aren’t you the smart boy who did your homework. Down with this sort of conspiracy theory and down with an American rural crooner. Please reinstate the pale and get rid of country music and jiving its just disgusting.
Said one resident who is in fact technically homeless and just sleeps outside the some like it hot takeaway
Mmmmmmm. . . . . Some Like it Hot chicken kebabs!!!!!
Woohoo
Apparently none of the shows sold out – just needed a bit more publicity.
So many stories about a guy who was barely famous 20 years ago.
@sinlacasa Are you being serious? I’m 26 years old and my parents have been listening to him for as long as I can remember. Just to be clear though.. I am not a fan.
3 biggest selling artist in Global music and had outsold the Beatles in the US! Hardly famous is right
Everybody’s parents are different, my parents like shit music too man.
Yes but IN the US…..nuff said
3 biggest selling artist GLOBALLY
Y’all must be close to running out of Garth Brooks photos at this stage.
They think they have it bad in the Gaza strip.
The country is in shit and all that people can talk about is a few poxy Gareth brooks concerts! Have the journal a Gareth brooks correspondent because ye are dragging the crap out of this, every second story ye put up is the same as the last only twisted in a different way
I think the Journal is run by an evil villain like in the film Tomorrow Never Dies who pulls strings behind the scenes to create news stories. They have agent provocateurs inciting the residents. What we think is Garth Brooks is actually a humanoid robot that they programmed to change his mind when required, all in order to post a new article on this. The real Garth Brooks was abducted a year ago and is being held in a secret underground lair frequented by our Journal overlords. IT’S ALL A CONSPIRACY!
Where would the likes of Garth Brooks and UB40 be if it wasn’t for the support of the Irish?
I’d never heard of Garth Brooks before this whole thing started. But strangely, after all of this attention, I feel like I want to buy a ticket for one of these concerts if they go ahead…
Sarah,
Second best selling albums sales behind the Beatles in the US… I think the problem is you not Garth Brooks.
Ah come on Ted, don’t break my heart my achy breaky heart. Is this not the funniest thing you have ever heard.
Group of residents complain..decide they don’t want concerts to go ahead, they call meetings and deliver flyers..200+ people seem to show interest in stopping said gigs, other 26000+ residents either don’t care, have tickets, can’t be bothered, throw out flyer with rest of the junk mail..some objections are possibly forged…some shadow plot from some people to fund an injunction to punish the GAA..
400000 Garth brooks fans call the residents names and suddenly the other 26000 people want the concerts to go ahead because they have been labeled as spoilsports ect, you can’t make this stuff up.
We have calls to help going out to the Queen of England and president Obama…wtf who makes this shit up…
The Irish people on all sides in this and the Media who fueled this have made this country the butt of jokes for years to come.
Derek. We’re quiet right to get Obama involved – and the Queen, the Popes and even the Daly Lamie.
These concerts must go on. Our nation depends on it.
What about the UN, why aren’t they involved ?
its a smokescreen
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/banks-write-off-over-300m-in-three-deals-with-denis-o-brien-1.1830533
And the UN, NATO, EU, FCA but, most importantly, Islam…
What’s wrong with these stupid people? Why start all this s**t in the first place.
Say Garth Brooks one more time, I dare you, I double dare you!!!
Say Garth Brooks one more God damned time!!!!
Gareth who ?
Who is he anyway?
Steve Earle… Now theres a real musician!
Who he?
Common sense at last.
welcome to ireland a lovely little country where a few bob can sort anything….laughing stock of the world
There’s very little a few bob can’t sort out ANYWHERE in the world.
a bit of a smokescreen for the real news today
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/banks-write-off-over-300m-in-three-deals-with-denis-o-brien-1.1830533
On and off like a hores knickers
misread that as a “horses’ knickers”
me too!
and me
Trev could never spel…
ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!
I hope the ballybough book club are ok with this news…..;)
well they should also forgo the 500K “Hello money” if they are serious
news just in…
Ireland has now overtaken Honduras as the no 1 Banana Republic in the world
Go Ireland!!
OMG :O They kept banging on about how much they don’t want the concerts, and now they’ve be cancelled they try and get them to ahead again. So idiotic, can’t wait for it all to be over and done with
Yeeeeehaw
this is amazing. pure entertainment
Agree, its a long time since I have had so much fun.
A dark day again for Irish politics. Just goes to show due process is dead when it comes to the vested interests of a few wealthy people. I just hope people see through this for what it really is.
I knew those 1,500 stetsons I bought at a knockdown price yesterday wouldn’t go to waste!
Enough now please, the coverage of this is getting beyond ridiculous. Can you not set up a single liveblog article or something so it can all be kept in one place?
Please stop this now as the laughter pains in my stomach are getting unbearable.
This whole thing is just a ruse to distract us from the cabinet reshuffle. It has Joan Burton stamped all over it.
Wowowowowowowow… You can now get Garth Brooks loom bands at http://www.loombandsireland.com, Not really but the Journal have gotten tons of visitors out of it so why shouldn’t I haha…
Why not just drop a 2ft thick lead box over Croke Park?
It’s not rocket science folks…
Wait till tomorrows top story Croke Park td to get cabinet post. Minister for the d’unbelievable.
I wouldn’t trust that handball crowd, they could be just ball hopping
Morto…
*facepalm*
This is the biggest load of s*ite ever! Were they not the people who got it cancelled in the first place? Also what about ticket holders who have already gotten refunds?
refunds wouldn’t be given out until the 15th july
Last month thejournal were hiring for a new position..http://www.thejournal.ie/copywriter-thejournal-ie-hiring-1532664-Jun2014/ one of the Requirements: “Impeccable grammar and spelling skills and excellent attention to detail”. Seems like spelling mistakes always appear on this website. Repor? is that suppose to be report?. So much for excellent attention to details.
Pinel, ” thejournal” should have a space, you’re not supposed to put a full stop after a question mark and “So much for excellent attention to details”, should be, “So much for excellent attention to detail.” . Hey! But who’s nit picking?
Down with this sort of thing, ah for Gdo (sic) sake lighten up.
Scandalous that this could dominate a country for a week.
Yeh! Who cares about 370,000 fellow Paddies who were looking forward to his gig and 70,000 tourist guests. Sod them. Scandalous.
william a question
in the eyes of the world what would you prefer
to be seen as a country who sticks by the rules or to be a country that can be held to ransom by a fat texan in a cowboy hat?
William there are more pressing matters than this
Sean, we can make any rules we like, it’s called democracy.
Alan, as Gay Byrne says, butwhataboutthe….. Maybe we shouldn’t be going to concerts with the country in a state of chasis. I hope you’re not going out for a pint tonight instead of lashing your back with thorny sticks.
william answer the question dont duck with fuzzy logic
yes rules can be changed but at the time that was the rule so I ask again
in the eyes of the world what would you prefer
to be seen as a country who sticks by the rules or to be a country that can be held to ransom by a fat texan in a cowboy hat?
Sean South, Fuzzy logic is the most difficult to emulate as it so happens. Is the fact that Garth is slightly overweight relevant? Can you remove that part of the question? PS What’s your BMI?
so you have no answer….your divided on the subject… i see….kinda thought that….ah well it takes all sorts I suppose
You’re not “your”.
PS O’Brien can donate to whom ever he likes. It’s his money.
Hollywood film producers are looking to make a blockbuster movie out of this Saga…
Any idea what it will be called?
Cowboys !!!!! Every last one of them
Singing cowboys too !!
Yet again a minority dictating to the majority. Anybody buying a house near a stadium knows that the stadium has to make money. Planners in the UK and the US plan for new stadiums to be build beside motorways and away from residential areas. We rebuild Landsown Road in Landsdown and Croke Park was redeveloped in a built up area. Brains in our planning department are in short supply. I pity the poor people travelling from the country to both thee venues.
@minfdulirish: these were historic stadia and there’s actually a lot to be said for having them in easily accessible locations. But stadia are primarily for sport, not for concerts. I haven’t heard any complaints about too many matches. This is all about the greedy GAA – aided by Aiken – exceeding the 3 concert per year limit they agreed with local residents after the redevelopment of Croke Park. They’ve already had 3 concerts this year and now want 5 more, a total of 8. Just taking the proverbial pi*#.
The resident’s must be getting an improved sweetner.
Maybe the same sweeteners the Corrib crowd, the wind farm crowd and the pylon crowd are getting. This is a city rural debate. Rural Ireland says no to everything, now Dublin strikes back, I think we need a new Pale so that we can get this country moving again.
Has the article on Jobbridge and Paypal been pulled?
I’m actually ashamed to be called Irish after all this embarrassing stunt just to get more money off the GAA….how sad for the residents that voted for the concert not to go ahead…oh yeah that would be only the one person who lives nowhere need the stand but nearer to Connolly station than croke park itself…
How is it possible an entire city could be bowing and scrapping to a has been 80s country singer? Beyond belief.
90s country singer.
Probably because of the huge cash injection that the local economy would get if the gigs were to go ahead.
Can we get Jim Corr’s opinion on this situation please…?
The law should be respected and is a matter for the high court.
Those residents have eyes on the €€€€€ been offered. ( It would be a laughing joke if they don’t receive it).
Why can’t this fat 52 year old out of tune ’20 year ago’ cowboy leave this nation alone and carry on with three concerts legally provided The other two is a matter for that bonehead Alkens
Water meters, people loosing their homes, bankers screwing us and all this hullabaloo about a country and western singer cancelling some gigs!!!! Ffs people let’s get our priorities straight!! Forget about this crap and let’s see if we can sort the country out!!!
You mean: Oh Sh it what have we done, there is no pay day coming now, let’s back pedal super fast…
Is that because they’ll lose the 0.5M investment that they are now willing to let the concerts proceed? Unbelievable!
Lets all sit down and have a nice cul of tea father !
Ah Heyorrrr! Not another Garth article.
“The Residents of Croke Park” . Are they actually living in Croke Park? No wonder they’re upset , or are they recovered? Are they taking up the Hotel offer? This is beyond farce at this stage!!!!. Are planning laws to be breached to facilitate the Rhinestone Cowboy, and his retinue? Sure we’re not
Lacking in precedent when it comes to planning. What about a new Garth Brooks Planning Tribunal. We could spend the €50m on that . Keep the money at home- in the Law Library. Patriotism first ??
Im writing a song for Gareth Brooks on this debacle It will be called Croaking in Dublin. Hopefully it will be a hit.
I believe Mother Theresa Niall Quinn himself is involved now. “If there is any way we can get Roy I mean Garth to change his mind for the sake of the country”
Tonight’s meeting called off
Brooks to do press conference including major announcement about the future of his career
My money is on he is going to announce he is retiring
Garth Brooks!!!
Muppets
Fri Sat – Mon Tue Wed would have been no problem. You need friends in hight places to do Sun.
Apart from the Stetsons there may also be an oversupply of budgie smugglers on the market.
This gig is on and off so often and so fast, it should carry an epilepsy warning.
Why bloody bother being against the gigs in the first place if you are then going to turn around and say era nah sure it’s grand we will facilitate them let them go ahead…
We all could have been spared the headache and embarrassment this issue has caused….5 gigs over 3 days will be worse then 1 a night for 5 nights.damn shame for fans,me being one of them.
..
.
Hundreds of defenceless innocents in Gaza being slaughtered by American backed israeli terrorists and the news in Ireland is a country singers concert.
Really sad.
.
..
Who will hold the rights to make a movie about all this
It is me a record breaker
Must be the local branch of ISIS!!
Any news about residents accept hotel offer or not? I was hoping they accept so we could demobilise their homes in Croke park…….
eh Journal
what about doing a story on this?
The last word, President Obama once (or maybe more than once) said yes we can. Now is his opportunity to make a name for himself and sort out this international issue. Gareth (sic)Brooks is so selfless when he considers the fans in Ireland, the poor people who landed out huge sums to see the ear piercing crooner expect the Pres to intervene and they are right. There could be no greater issue in the world at this time or could there be? Yes we can.
Can we all just end this and tell the guy to pi$$ off. When they make the reeling in the years for 2014 it will only be about this. What started as a simple story of greed has turned into an international embarrassment. I can just imagine the news in other countries are loving this ‘and in other news, Ireland is currently getting their prime minister to organise 5 concerts’
Had enough of this what a lot of space given to a Fat Cowboy’s cancelled concerts, who cares? Maybe we have more to eorry about than this rubbish?
have your say