Statement by Dublin City Council - Garth Brooks Concerts, Croke Park July 2014

Dublin City Council granted an Event Licence in respect of three Garth Brooks concerts to be held on Friday 25 July, Saturday 26 July and Sunday 27 July 2014. A condition of the Licence requires that an updated Event Management Plan be submitted by the promoter, which outlines any required changes associated with the granting of the three concerts under the Licence, including an updated production and works schedule. The updated Plan must be approved by the City Council.

Following a meeting this morning between Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions and Owen Keegan, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, the City Council has agreed to a proposal from Aiken Promotions designed to break the impasse that has arisen. Under the proposal the City Council will consider an updated Event Management Plan, to be submitted in accordance with the Licence, whereby the three concerts will proceed but the Saturday and Sunday concerts will start earlier to facilitate separate matinee audiences on these two days. This will allow everybody who bought a ticket to see Garth Brooks

The Council is satisfied that the event licensing procedure was applied correctly in this particular case by the City Council and that the decision reached was appropriate and balanced having regard to all the competing interests.

However, in response to the disappointment of ticket holders who purchased tickets in good faith for the cancelled Monday and Tuesday concerts and in light of concerns that these ticket holders could turn up on the other days creating security and public safety concerns the Council has agreed, following consultation with An Garda Siochana, to consider a revised Event Management Plan prepared on the basis outlined above.