OVER 300 RESIDENTS showed up last night to a meeting aimed at fighting the upcoming Garth Brooks and One Direction concerts at Croke Park.
Ministers of State Joe Costello and Paschal Donohoe, local TD Maureen O’Sullivan joined a number of local councillors to oppose moves by Croke Park to hold eight gigs in the stadium across the summer, on top of a full slate of championship GAA.
The residents and authorities from the stadium had agreed to cap the number of gigs at GAA HQ at three. However, country superstar Brooks proved to be so popular that five sold-out gigs were added for July.
Jim Berkeley, a local resident and photographer, said: “The general consensus of both the public and the elected representatives was that Croke Park have been acting in bad faith, and is in fact sullying the good name of the GAA.”
Local councillor Nial Ring said the message from residents was clear.
“”The meeting was a great show of strength by the local residents associations, the streets committee and local representatives who came together as one voice to discuss the issue and agree a way forward” said Cllr Ring.
“The issues of traffic, anti-social behaviour, inconvenience, access to homes, public order and basic quality of life issues were discussed as well as the way Croke Park communicated with the local community” he continued.
“The chair of the meeting, Colm Steophens, put three questions to the residents.
He asked if the people object to the intensification of concerts in Croke Park, do the people want the Garth Brooks concerts to go ahead and do the people want our politicians to meet with and negotiate with the GAA, Croke Park and concert promoters on our behalf?
“All three questions were answered with a unanimous no vote”
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