GARDAÍ SAY THAT a traffic plan for next year’s Ed Sheeran gigs will not be ready until a few months before they take place.
However, a local representative in Cork says that residents around Pairc uí Chaoimh need to know how the gigs will be handled much sooner.
Yesterday, Aiken Promotions made an announcement that Sheeran would add a date each in Dublin and Cork for his Irish tour next year, adding this was the “third and final dates added”.
The Cork concert will be on 6 May at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, while the Dublin one will be on 19 May at Phoenix Park.
All of Sheeran’s other gigs in Dublin, Galway and Belfast have sold out.
Labour representative in the area around Pairc uí Chaoimh Peter Horgan says that he wants the plans released much sooner.
“We need to see movement from the authorities to implement a comprehensive traffic management plan for the entire suburb, not just the immediate residential estates to Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
“We cannot wait until next April to see some sort of plan. All agencies involved must come together in the next number of weeks and start engaging with residents in Blackrock, Mahon, Ballintemple and Ballinlough to ensure that their quality of life is not at a disadvantage during and after these concerts.”
Green Party councillor for Castleknock Roderic O’Gorman says that he hopes the Phoenix Park gigs cause minimal disruption.
“I think it is important that the concert promoter works closely with the gardaí, the OPW and both Dublin City and Fingal Councils to ensure comprehensive traffic management and pedestrian access plans are put in place.
“While concerts in the Phoenix Park over the last few years have generally passed off with minimal impact on people living in surrounding areas, residents still remember the 2012 Swedish House Mafia concert that was ruined by significant violence and vandalism. Lessons were learned from that experience and hopefully, a high level of policing will be seen around the Ed Sheeran concerts next year.”
A Garda spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that a plan will likely be finalised in the months leading up to the gigs.
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