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THIS WEEK, all eyes were on the increasingly bitter row between AstraZeneca and European leaders.
The pharmaceutical company announced last week that due to a ‘reduced yield’ at an EU facility, the deliveries of its Covid vaccine in the first quarter of this year would be reduced by 60%.
The bloc’s leaders aren’t best pleased with this and have demanded that AstraZeneca live up to what it says are contractual obligations.
This isn’t how the situation is viewed by the other side. In an interview with la Repubblica this week, CEO Pascal Soriot said his company’s only obligation was to do the best it could, and that the glitches are similar to what was encountered by the United Kingdom’s supply chain, which was up and running at an earlier stage.
The European Medicines Agency announced on Friday that it had approved the use of the vaccine in all age groups, paving the wall for its roll-out. However, the German health ministry said there was insufficient data to demonstrate its efficacy in those aged over 65.
This supply situation creates a significant headache for Ireland. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine – cheap, plentiful, safe, easily stored and easily transported - was to be the backbone of the country’s vaccine roll-out.
The message from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Thursday was that it’s not all bad news:
“Through the EU advance purchase arrangement, we have pre-purchased 14.4 vaccine million doses. AstraZeneca will not disappear and we will start receiving its vaccine very soon, but even if, hypothetically, we got no AstraZeneca vaccines, of which we have pre-ordered 3.3 million, we would still have over 11 million doses of other vaccines.”
This is true – at least for most of the 11 million referenced here.
Ireland will continued to receive a steady stream of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
Johnson & Johnson announced this week that its jab is 66% effective, and while the EMA has yet to set a date for the approval of this single-dose vaccine, it is the subject of a rolling review.
Curevac launched its phase three trial in December, with the results expected in Q1 2021, and this month announced a partnership with Bayer to boost production.
But of the millions of doses, some 3,300,000 may not be available until late this year, if not 2022.
This is the Sanofi-Pasteur/GSK vaccine. A delay due to disappointing results in clinical trials was announced before Christmas, something which flew under the radar to a certain extent but cropped up again this week with a new, positive twist.
The joint effort between France’s Sanofi and Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) reported disappointing results in early December.
This is one of the six vaccines covered by the European Union’s advanced purchase agreements. Ireland was in line to receive 3,300,000 doses, with an earliest possible delivery date of July 2021.
However, interim results showed a low immune response in older adults, which means the two manufacturers are back to the drawing board.
They now expect the vaccine to be available – if these new clinical trials go as planned, and subject to approval by health authorities – by the final quarter of 2021.
This vaccine differs from others covered by the purchase agreement in that it is based on a protein subunit (Pfizer/BionTech, Moderna and Curevac are mRNA; AstraZeneca and J&J are a non-replicating viral vector). It is also among the more stable vaccines and can be stored in a normal consumer fridge.
What makes the delay doubly disappointing is that the jab is based on a well-established method.
Sanofi provides the all-important SARS-CoV-2 spike protein – the target of many vaccines as it is how the virus binds to human cells – which is created using what is known as recombination DNA technology.
GSK provides what is known as an adjuvant, which boosts the immune response.
This is the same method used to produce their already successful influenza vaccine, albeit with a flu virus and not the coronavirus.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials found that the immune response created by the vaccine was similar to what is found in those who have recovered from Covid-19, but only in those aged 18 to 49 years.
The companies believe the next attempt will be successful, using an improved antigen formulation.
In the meantime, however, the production lines won’t lie idle. Sanofi announced this week that it would produce some 125 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
These will be available across the European Union by the middle of this year.
In normal times the two companies would be seen as rivals, and acts of solidarity like this are rare. Professor Brian MacCraith, head of Ireland’s high-level vaccine taskforce, described it as “highly unusual in a highly competitive industry” when speaking at an Oireachtas committee this week.
Separately, Merck announced that it will abandon two vaccine efforts which failed to produce a strong immune response: Merck’s own, and another developed with the Pasteur Institute in Paris, seen as another blow to France’s scientific pride.
Ireland’s Department of Health was asked about the delay to the Sanofi/GSK vaccine, which has been little referenced in official discussion over recent weeks.
It does not appear in the minutes of any meetings of the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination, as well as about whether the roll-out plan will need to be adjusted.
The vaccine strategy lists its availability as being from July 2021 – but the delay was only announced the day the plan was submitted to Cabinet, December 11, likely contributing to this misprint in the document.
“The GSK/Sanofi-Pasteur vaccine candidate was part of the portfolio of vaccines that the commission negotiated an Advanced Purchase Agreement on,” a statement from the Department of Health to TheJournal.ie read.
“The portfolio was designed to cover different vaccine platforms, given the uncertainty regarding variation in vaccine efficacy, production capacity, their performance across different cohorts, and whether all candidates would receive regulatory authorisation.
“The GSK/ Sanofi-Pasteur vaccine contract is an ‘Opt-in’ contract, predicated on certain preconditions are met regarding the progression of the vaccine. Ireland does not have to opt-in to this contract until such milestones are met.”
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sorry but if you buy a house near a stadium, you’re gonna have to deal with crowds.
You know the GAA signed a deal with local residents to restrict the number of concerts.
how many per year?
The figure was three I believe but the point is the GAA signed an agreement and then broke it they at least could have attempted to engage with local residents to come to a new agreement.
The GAA was under no obligation to come to an agreement and they are free to change it over time. They can hold concerts every week and they would be fully within their rights. If you choose to live in a house near the countries largest stadium there is a reasonable expectation it’s going to be used for events.
Compared to a stadium in the UK, Croker is hardly used.
So if you sign an agreement David it means, nothing is that your contention?
Depends on the agreement, I’m sure the agreement they signed had a clause saying it was subject to change. They signed the contract like 5 years ago, many many things have changed since then.
@David..Talking out of your backside…An agreement is an agreement and should not be broken by any party unless agreed upon..”Depends on the agreement”…I’d love to see you have the same attitude if your employers broke your contract of employment or if the banks decided to evict you from your house even though you were upto date in payments ..Yeh thought so!!
As someone who lives close to Croke Park but I have a few comment to make:
Croke Park was there before most residents.
Croke Park has certainly been there for many years but it was in the late 90′s that it was redeveloped and the the capacity greatly increased. Since the redevelopment and installation of Flood lights in 2007 the nature of events has changed greatly. With the floodlights there has been more evening matches, more night time concerts and with events taking place later in the evening, more anti social behaviour as a result of drink.
The Agreement
As part of the Planning process for the redevelopment of Croke Park the GAA consulted with all impacted parties. To avoid a multitude of planning objections it was agreed that a signed agreement would be made between the Residents, County Council, local politicians and the GAA/Croke Park. In return for not objecting to the redevelopment the GAA agreed to do a number of things including:
– Limit Saturday matches so they would only be played when there was no alternative
– Restrict large non GAA match events to 3 a year
– Work with the local residents to improve local amenities
– Not 100% sure of this but I believe another point was the creation of a fund to help local projects
This agreement was signed by all parties and the GAA completed the redevelopment and then installed Flood Lights in 2007.
Breach of Agreement
This year there are 8 large non match day events scheduled. The GAA did not consult with residents about the additional events. There has not been any good faith discussions and the GAA’s reaction has been “time moves on”. The main issue for the residents is the GAA’s reaction to a good faith agreement that was drawn up to facilitate the redevelopment of the Stadium. Now that the GAA do not need the residents to hold off on planning objections they are effectively giving them the two fingers.
Free tickets
There is a misunderstanding about tickets for Residents. For GAA matches there is a draw for a small number of tickets to the larger matches. Residents who win the draw are given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the match.
For Concerts and non match events a small allocation of tickets are given to residents, I believe that these are are free as per the terms of the agreement. There are very tight restrictions around these. Once again there is a draw to allocate these tickets. Only residents who can prove their residency (pre registration with GAA, photo ID and Utility bill) can enter the draw. In the past the winning residents have not been issued tickets but had to turn up at the stadium with proof of ID, address and were then given admission. This was to avoid potential touting of tickets
Its a gaa stadium! It was gaa ground long before most of the current residents were even born! Why should they sign any agreement, you moved in beside them! Jesus lads cop on, there’s worse things going on for crying out loud
GAA can have 3 per year and the residents would agree to a lot more spread out over the year. The agreement was that after 3 residents would be consulted on how to make the extra dates less hassle in them.
So 5 nights in a row and 3 of them working nights is a step too far got the residents I think
Only 8?
The cynic would say , the residents will be offered a number of VIP packages and free tickets for a number of concerts and matches.
Result? Residents withdraw their objections
Where’s Croke Park….?
I’m a resident, I have no interest in free tickets. I would prefer a public admission from the GAA that they have acted irresponsibly in their decision to to schedule five consecutive sell-out concerts without community consultation, that and some kind of binding agreement to avoid this kind of situation recurring would be enough for me.
Fair play to the residents for standing up for themselves and refusing to roll over quietly. If there is an agreement in place it should be respected – at very least the locals should have been consulted before the concerts were lined up.
People should not be expected to tolerate those who would lie, deceive and break agreements whether its in business, personal or political life.
How about don’t buy a house beside one of the largest stadiums in Europe then. Irish people are such complainers. These gigs are massive. 70,000 sold to overseas guest, 400,000 in total visiting the Northside of the city and what do the residents do?? Complain. Get a grip. Great thing for this country. Whole city benefits from a boost to economy. Hotel rooms are full and restaurants and shops will be flat out busy. Everyone benefits. Also don’t buy a house beside a large venue if you have an issue with crowds.
Here Franner… I’ve a pain in me gee with these culchies walking by the gaff…Can’t get a bleedin bit a kip… No mean man… Get on the blower to Aido ta sort it…. Whatever you need Nidgie… Whatever ya need…!
I’m sure Croke Park doesn’t complain when the neighbours invite people around to their houses… Fair is fair lads…
Where u from Louth
Is it really that big a deal? These gigs are fantastic for our country, the amount of much needed revenue that will come in from them will do us the world of good. Is it that big a deal to have to listen to a gig 5 nights in a row and have a bit of hustle and bustle around? Surely there’s worse things in the world??? There’ll hardly be any thuggery or disorderly behaviour from Garth Brooks fans! Honestly, can you not just soak up the atmosphere and suck it up for a few days??
Pol, you’ve missed the point completely.
I am a resident, I see the value in attracting 70,000 extra tourists to my city; I am of course interested in seeing local businesses benefit from events held at Croke park; like any reasonable person I did not move into a house next to a major sporting stadium and expect not to have to experience some level of disruption.
Of course there are -indisputable – positive outcomes from all of this. But that completely sidesteps the principle of this disagreement. The crux of the issue is that the GAA and the promoters have completely absolved themselves of any accountability to the local community. As per my above comment this matter – if handled more sensitively by the GAA – could have been resolved if they had consulted with the residents BEFORE scheduling five consecutive full-capacity concerts.
What unites most of the criticisms to be found on here is there shared tendency towards ‘outcome bias’ – i.e. completely negating the issue of whether or not ther GAA has behaved ethically by focusing on the positive (largely economic) consequences of the concerts being staged.
Haha! Residents get 50 tickets per year, so 50 tickets for all 8 concerts. There is a “lottery system” that covers areas as far as glasnevin and fairview. In all my years of living next to Croke park I have only know of one neighbour getting a ticket…to the eurcharistic congress!!!
They certainly lucked out there didn’t they?
Dietrich… Maybe you should have second guessed your decision to move in beside a 83000 capacity stadium??
Well said Pól. Pack of whinging Basta&ds
Laura, they’ll be too busy soaking up piss and puke, to suck up the fag-butts and missing teeth of yokel throngs of line dancing shit-kickers!!
The residents just want a fair deal. The G.A.A. is a great institution at grass routes and while all the funds the G.A.A. do make is redistrubuted around the 32 counties.H.Q. are steam rolling the local community with their Bully Boy tactics and should be held to account.Hopefuly the proffesionals in Croke Park will cop on to what the G.A.A. is all about which is THE COMMUNITY and not making a profit for H.Q. and leave their community hall the hand ball alley alone.
SinAssist This is the behaviour you foresee from Garth Brooks concerts? Really?
Yes maam….by and bye howdy!!
SinAssist I’m going. I’m a 31 year old mother of two. I assure you, you won’t find me puking or pissing in anyone’s bushes before it after the concert. I think I can safely say the same for my sister, Aunty and three cousins going with me…
*before or after
To all the residents complaing.. Why did you move beside one of the biggest stadia on the planet? Croke Park was long there before any of the residents complaining.. Either put up or shut up
So dietrich, i take it free tickets will go some way to easing the pain? Or maybe the government should gove you some money?
Would you be happy then?
No line dancin’ six abreast naw y’all…..enjoy!
People have to remember a few main points!!
Not all residents are complaining! I live at an entrance to Croke park, never got a free ticket, don’t want free tickets or compo!! I don’t mind concerts at weekends
I have never been informed of any of these meetings or my neighbours,yet the loudest residents are the ones who are least affected!!
I would love if Croke park make a commitment to “the legacy initiative” they are promising, but won’t happen.
There is a long standing agreement to hold just 3 concerts per year .
Same here. I’ve been living beside Croker for years and have no issues with concerts or matches, I knew the stadium was there when I moved in, as did everyone on the residents committee who are whinging. I’ve also never had a free ticket, nor looked for one.
Yes it can get a bit messy at times, most often when Dublin play, but like I said you can’t move in beside the biggest stadium in the country and then complain when the stadium is used.
“presents an unacceptable threat…”
Yeah, to their ears…
Dead right Ger.
It’s like moving in close to Dublin Airport and then writing a complaint to the DAA complaining of aircraft noise.
These residents are just looking for a few grand….
Well if they dont want Garth in Dublin we will gladly have in limerick for as many nights as he wants, the residents would want to cop on and realise the money that will be spent in the Dublin economy keeps their families in jobs one way or another
And they say Limerick people people have poor taste in music, fair play ta ya Tommy, gwan Tommy!
Most of the residents don’t have people working for Croke park or for Garth brooks , having a concert has zero affect to there financial status let alone keep them in jobs.
Only country bumpkins will go to concerts by this country bumpkin!
Rubbish
Large numbers of the locals work in the shops, food outlets, bars etc in the surrounds of croke park
Or they work in hotels, are taxi men etc etc etc
There is going to be over 350,000 people going to these gigs. If they all spend €50 on the day that’s €18 million to the economy.
I’m sorry residents, but that’s the fact
If you have ever been to Dublin you’ll soon realise that large numbers of local people do not work in the shops hotels etc.
I was born and always lived in dublin and own 2 shops in dublin! One not far from Croker.
I have 25+ staff working for me of which approx 20 are irish
If more company’s had percentages like yours I don’t think the country would be in the mess it’s in, although I suppose this is probably the wrong article to start that debate
I disagree utterly.
I employ people based on their experience and how they come across in their interview/trial period
If they are from Cork or the Congo is irrelevant, racism is disgusting.
And furthermore, the reason there are so many polish etc people working in the spars and centras etc is because the Celtic tiger Irish people would not apply for such a job. I would put an ad in the paper and quite possibly get essentially no irish applicants.
Therefore the polish and others got the positions. Now 5 years on the Irish people now will take a shop assistant job but the polish now have far more relevant experience and are in jobs for many years in some instances.
It’s disgusting to see and hear the daily comments ignorant people make to someone born elsewhere who has lived in this country for ten years and sees it as there home and have their children in Irish schools etc
It may be irrelevant to you but you would be in the minority , irish people are not hired by because company’s can not exploit then as much as our foreign friends
Ya when limerick hosted Bruce last year the locals decided to sit outside and listen to the concert and soak up the atmosphere
That was one night was it not?
Nah Bruce plays for bloody ages these days
They were there for a week
What the residents are most unhappy about is the behaviour of the crowds not the fact that there are crowds. People using their gardens as bins and urinals while the Garda watch on. Add to that Garth Brooks playing in the background for 5 nights in a row and I think you’ll find that’s enough to make anybody angry
I’m most unhappy about the GAA feeling like they can do whatever they like without any accountability to the residents and their scheduling of these concerts without any consultation knowing full well that once all tickets were sold it would be near impossible for the residents to mount any kind of meaningful objection
But the GAA can do that and they are totally within their rights. If you didn’t realize that when you moved in beside Croker then you are going to have a bad time.
So what you saying is that because the GAA are not legally required to have any kind of civic responsibility I should expect them to have no accountability whatsoever to the people who live in the shadow of their stadium? That’s fine if you would like to live in that kind of world, personally I’d rather live in a democracy.
We do live in a democracy, if the people felt it was an issue they can get elected to the local council.
People are free to campaign out of self-interest but they can’t expect other people to care that much.
Awaiting the avalanche of “you shouldn’t have bought beside a stadium” comments.
Maybe because its a very valid point. If I buy a home beside an airport I can hardly expect their to be no noise from aircraft.
No, but if you bought it knowing that there was an agreement to only have 10 take off/landings per day, then after buying it the airport decided to have 100 per day you’d be pretty pissed off.
David I was going to answer you, but Aaron beat me to it.
Stuff happens what are they going to do? Turn down the chance to host one of the biggest selling artist s of all time, comeback gigs?? Surely if I buy beside a airport I know there is a good chance that they could increase the number of flights. Ergo if I buy beside a huge Stadium I know that I will have to deal with concerts.
Pol are you deliberately missing the point or just choosing to ignore it, which?
The point being?? The gaa signed an agreement? Was it l;egally binding? If so then the residents have a case. Id imagine it was a case of this agreement is subject to change.
Oh yes, the “Stuff happens” defence, your powers of argumentation are astounding Pól
Stuff happens – wow, really ?
@Pol..Go on say “Ergo” again because it disguises your lack of intelligence better than saying “stuff happens”..Go on you know want to…
@ Pol.One of the biggest selling artist of all time your having a laugh. Only has one album in the top 100 of all time and its ranked 82nd.
Sorry guys, nobody cares about your pissy little problems, least of all the government
Opinions are like ass holes everybody got 1
They are right, 5 nights of shite music and farmers in plastic cowboy hats is too much for anyone to deal with
Why couldn’t he play 2 nights in Slane instead?
Have you ever tried to get to Slane on the day of a concert? It’s absolute madness. I went in 2011 and it was grand. It took 20 minutes to get out of the car park we had no problems. Went last year sat in the car park for 2 and a half hours trying to get home. It was chaos. I minded my cousins children last year when she went to Eminem it took her 3 hours to get out of the car park after the concert. I’ve been to concerts in Croke Park and while there is upheaval for the residents, It’s fairly easy to get to and from and the crowd normally leaves quickly enough afterwards.
You wouldn’t mind my kids for a few hours?
Slane is a deathtrap waiting to happen.Try get out of there after a concert, then spend 5 hours trying to get out of the car park.Croker is a great concert venue,hope the local residents get a result as well though.
I think u will find once locals are offered some kind of compensation there wont be a word
Not at all, I am a resident and I have no interest in compensation of any sort. A public admission from the GAA that they acted irresponsibly and a commitment to proper consultation with residents in future would suffice. That is the crux of the issue. I can put up with it once but if it is not resisted then the GAA will effectively be given carte blanche to schedule whatever they want, whenever they way, without any consideration for residents
Really though did you honestly expect them to keep to 3 nights per year? And correct me if im wrong but was there any sort of contract legally to keep them to just three nights?
I may not speak for other residents but the issue is not the number of nights per year for me, I’m perfectly happy for that number to be reviewed. The point is that they reneged on their commitments without any consultation and that they schedule five consecutive concerts in a row – if it had been scheduled across two weekends that would have been fine for me.The GAA – as an avowedly “community based” and state funded organisation – should understand the importance of democratic accountability when they are making decisions that will effect the community in which their headquarters is based. It’s not asking for much to be consulted.
I suspect that GAA and the promoters knew full well that by scheduling the gigs without consultation they would put the residents in conflict with the 400,000 ticket holders – and with broader public opinion it would seem – when they expressed any kind of objection. The sheer scale of the vitriol directed at residents here and elsewhere suggests that their plan has worked.
Sinead, so if anyone signs an agreement with you you’ll have no problem if they break it?
Remember that when you sign an employment agreement or mortgage or a rental.
im not sure i would feel the same. The profit for dublin over those 8 nights is huge and local residents are making a fuss now because they feel the gaa have broken a promise? Its childish…its done… and in my opinion locals should really suck it up….you chose to live there….
Ahh Norm so you have seen the contract then? The GAA is under no obligation to sign a contract with the local residents and they are just going back to the way things were before. They can hold as many concerts as they want as long as they get their permits. Reasonable expectation the stadium is going to be used for events.
As i said in a previous post it wasnt a contract it was more of a pinky promise…sure we all break those!!!!
I’d say you’re great fun sinead
It was a signed agreement, didn’t realise adults done pinky agreements.
Great craic altogether
Ah would ya give it over!!! Blah blah blah the residents are unhappy and you don’t want compensation??!! Seriously pull the other one!!
David there was an agreement signed between the residents and the GAA.Amazing but it actually made the news at the time even stated how many concerts Croke would hold pa.
As I pointed out to you before, out of politeness use my name as I use yours.Only friends and family call me Norm, you’re neither.
You seem very fixated on this agreement norm. They can change it at anytime for any reason I assume.
Is it worth anything more? The 5 extra nights will go ahead….whining or no whining.
5 extra nights ! It just gets worse !
“its done”, that’s the point, the precedent that has been set here is that the GAA can do effectively whatever they want …… once the tickets have been sold there’s no turning back, I look forward to the day Sinead that a large organisation in the vicinity of your home starts acting without any consideration for your rights and you are called upon to “suck it up”
Sinead, do you understand that there is a difference between “whining” and mounting a reasonable objection?
David you know the expression about “assume”if you don’t ask soemone to explain it to you.
Il correct u there….one direction are playing first for 2/3 nights….then garth brooks plays 5 nights….no kick up about the first 2/3….so my question would be why bother now?
Well u know what i live beside a very large field and i have no doubt in my mind one day there will b a monstrous something or other there…..il suck that up too because brown envelopes will be passed and thats our government for you…anyway why didnt u whine after the first date was announced when one direction had sold out already?
No Davy the GAA can’t change it anytime they want. If they can then it’s not an agreement… Now as has been stated Croke/GAA signed an agreement… Signed by two extremely high ranking officials of the organisation. Now they are reneging on it and the residents are responding in the correct fashion. If the GAA get away with 8 this year next year it could be 10 – 15 or twenty. Croke park makes more money from concerts than sports so they’ll gladly sacrifice some games for profit
Of course it could be 10 or 20, it could be 30 or 40. If they can get permission from Dublin City council.
On a more general point, how can the promoters advertise and sell tickets for gigs that are not (yet) licenced. I know you hear all the time on ads “subject to licence”. But if any of the Garth Brooks gigs are NOT licenced now, sure there’ll be riots. Why are they not obliged to get the licence in place BEFORE selling the tickets to the public?
Because the licencing process is long and onerous but generally in the end most are approved. It takes them a long time to get the licenses and they need cashflow to keep things running and keep the planning going.
It’ll be some disaster for the promoters if it is called off…..a hell of a lot of money to be returned
Compo alert! Watch, as with the emergence of a “deal”, all objections will disappear. And suddenly there’ll be no problem with the crowds “invading” the area.
Not at all, I am a resident and I have no interest in compensation of any sort. A public admission from the GAA that they acted irresponsibly and a commitment to proper consultation with residents in future would suffice. That is the crux of the issue. I can put up with it once but if it is not resisted then the GAA will effectively be given carte blanche to schedule whatever they want, whenever they way, without any consideration for residents.
Of course. This is all about compo. Only question remaining is what is the residents price?
And how on earth would that work? Cheques to be dropped in the letterbox of every household within a mile’s radius? This is about principle and democratic accountability, not money……well, it’s about money for the GAA.
So will you say no if a few bob lands on your doorstep? Doubtful. I do however agree that residents should have been consulted but who could have believed that the first concert would sell out, let alone five? It was unprecedented. Paddy power would have kept my money!
Did that big GAA stadium in Cork close down? How come no one thought of that as an alternative. Not far from Cork city centre or the Airport and ample parking around it
Pairc Ui Chaoimh ? Its still there, was used for bruce springsteen last year. It could be used but its old and due to begin redevelopment in a few months.
The residents only looking for tickets that they can flog onto the ticket touts and that way get cash outta the deal !
Nothing more to the story !
Not like the locals down there would care about the impact of have 400,000 people around Dublin for a few days , splashing their cash !
Heaven forbid they might actually look at the bigger picture ! !
Ive been to many concerts & matches in Croke park, and never once witnessed any trouble, residents saying concert goers piss in their gardens & jump on their cars is a load of bullshit, they are looking for a payoff & they will get it. Shops, pubs & hotels in the area will appreciate the extra business, without these concerts & events, those businesses wouldnt survive. I can guarantee when these concerts are on, we will see the majority of residents sitting in their front gardens with their cans of beer soaking up the atmosphere, ive seen it all before. As for Mary lou Mcdonald looking for easy votes……pfft
They should move it to phoenix park and give them nothing. The amount of money its bring into the country. I wouldn’t buy a house somewhere near a venue like that then give out about it. I wouldnt buy a house around a shopping centre and kick off about how busy it is at Christmas time. Get over yourselves.
If the agreement was only three concerts a year, why didn’t the residents protest when the first Brooks concert was announced? Because that would have made it 4! I didn’t even hear a peep after the three were announced! Then 5! Booooom!!
Well Ciaran if you didn’t personally “hear a peep” then the residents must have been largely silent
Dietrich- How loud did the residents shout when the first Brooks concert was announced ? Which would have made it 4 concerts!
Quiet as a mouse now Dietrich! You must have brokered some deal ! Money talks! Much a do about nothing it seems!
As the stadium was there before any of the locals and down to the fact that it has to at the very least cover operating costs, I really don’t see how they have any grounds for complaint, business is business after all.
There was an agreement in place which the GAA have broken.
If the residents were to get free tickets, they’d have to collect them on the day so they wouldn’t be able to sell them to the touts. If I was a resident in the area, no amount of free tickets or money would compensate me for having to listen to that rubbish for 5 nights in a row. Add to the torture of listening country & western music, the traffic distribution, closed roads, parking, noise, crowds, rubbish. The residents have every right to complain & deserve anything they get but it wouldn’t be enough for me.
U had the sense to not buy your house near a huge stadium then!
Jesus Sinead, what have you got against the residents around Croke Park? Do you work for the GAA? It’s not unreasonable to ask for some degree of consultation when they make decisions which have an effect on your quality of life and your ability to travel to and from your home for almost an entire week, is it?
Nobody is disputing the existence of a “huge stadium” near our homes, or the fact that it will regularly host events. We are just asking that they be scheduled sensibly and responsibly.
I reckon Sinead nots Evan a real person, it’s just Garth Brooks on a fake account
Not even*
Ok just answer me this because iv asked many times now….why wasnt a fuss made after the first date sold out? And why on earth would i have anything against croke park residents? Thats just absurd. My opinion is its done bla bla yes u feel violated but really u live beside croke park!!! I just dont get it!!!
Ssshhhhh
Why would anybody make a fuss over the first date?, as many people have mentioned the agreement was 3 dates
Yes but one direction had already sold that out
I think that the GAA might use Garth’s words. “You can kiss my ass”
Yeah Eoin, he’s a classy guy, just like you
Simple any resident who bought a house in the area since corker was revamped has no case. They knew what they were buying beside. Those there longer should be compensated.
Tell them to piss off and stop whinging
Any of the residents willing to offer bed for the night of the concerts the prices of the hotels just crazy
Serious and unacceptable threat! Lol! Yeah I heard one direction fans are a menacing bunch of 12 year olds…..and don’t get me started on the Garth Brooks fans…..ah seriously lads!
Residents’s motive is money money nothing but money! If I live near Croke park, I would mind my own business, not moaning or interfering or blackmailing…
To those commenting on people buying houses by a stadium please think on the large number of very elderly in our community – they did not choose this, croker is changing and they need to pay due consideration to the existing community. I live in a cottage with two very young children and the prospect of 100,000 (conservative) walking down our road over the course of 5 nights does concern me – croke park have not indicated how they will manage the public health and safety issues. Its truly awful walking a 5 and 2 yr old to schools stepping over broken glass with piss and vomit everywhere – we had no intentions of living here with two kids but here we are. I ask if folks here could consider how they would feel if their kids were exposed to this kind of behaviour – they are very aware and it frightens them because all they see is adults out of control. its also alarming to the elderly and other vulnerable members of our community. Garth Brooks is great for the economy but we need to manage risk to the community , the vast majority of whom will gain very little from this. Croke Park also need to remember they built a stadium in a highly residential area.
Garth brooks and one direction fans are hardly the vomit and broken glass crowd !
It’s not the Chilli Peppers playing
Housing is cheaper in the area of the stadium than it otherwise would be because of the disruption from Croker. The stadium has been there for over a century.
Don’t know about that. Some of the people interviewed by RTE with tickets were rough as fu*k. Just because some people like country & western music instead of rock music doesn’t mean that they won’t drink to excess. That’s a ridiculous assumption to make.
Very clever, big pay off for residents, and away they go!!!!!!! Though I can understand why they are complaining, the GAA broke a contract at the end of the day!!!
NOT A CONTRACT
Sinead a signed agreement is a contract, check with a solicitor if you’re not sure, however a “pinky” is a different matter.
The term ‘residents’ is pretty abstract, if there was indeed a “pay off” how would you determine who got it? Home owners within a one mile radius? How on earth would that work? It’s a pretty silly notion to think that residents are looking for financial compensation.
Really so the event will be cancelled ? The gaa will have a serious legal battle on their hands? I think not……i will most definately give u a wave on the 28th….
Norman if its a contract then take it to the courts and get them to stop the concerts, very simple. I would think since ye haven’t done that then this isn’t an Contract. Also who exactly did Croke Park /The GAA sign this supposed “Contract” with? There would have to be another legal entity set up to sign it not just “the residents” .
I should also add that this was a totally stupid mistake for Croke Park and Aiken Promotions to make. It would have been very simple to sit down with the local residents before announcing the concerts and coming up with a plan that suits everyone.
Paul I said pretty much said that in my earlier comment, btw a residents association is a legal entity.
Actually Sinead a contract was signed. Next time you get into a contract with someone and they break it will you suck it up ?
Fair play to the residents for sticking to their guns. Classic David v Goliath. The agreement is de facto binding, and they know it, don’t sell out.
Have pity on the Croke Park Residents!
5 days of GARTH BROOKS! 3 days of 1DIRECTION! Jesus Wept! 5 MINUTES of either would send me insane!
Don’t understand what the big deal is about , if you live beside a stadium you sign up for the excessive noise , I don’t mean to be rude but just deal with it..!
Maybe Mary Loo could get Gerry on the job.
They’re obviously getting compo and free tickets so! (I joke!!!)
VERY quiet now!!!! In the words of my da….the palms have been greased!!!!
Why can’t they have the gigs in Cork,Limerick or Kilkenny most Dubs can’t stand the fat washed out has been,the residents have a strong case 3 gigs a year were agreed ,it’s a football ground which is fine by the residents anything else requires planning permission.
Speaking as a resident of 35 years in the area, the redevelopment of Croke Park from a 45,000 to a 85,000 is fairly recent, since then the amount of matches has doubled and with the installation of floodlights the amount of night time events has increased that amount of events again. Dublin City Council & the Government has let the people of this area down by not following any international rules for the planning & usage of a 85,000 seater stadium & allowing the GAA to get away with not honour any of its commitments to the residents. The development was pushed thru by Bertie during the Celtic Tiger years. There is no reason whatsoever why the people of the area should be treated as second class citizens & their rights taken away to further the profit making of the GAA, that is what has the country in the state it is today, putting money before people
Garth Killarney still available .Come for a holiday if not to sing.
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