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Garth Brooks: Dublin talks to save Croke Park concerts Garth Brooks: Dublin talks to save Croke Park concerts
(35 minutes later)
Talks about salvaging US country singer Garth Brooks' five Croke Park concerts will take place in Dublin later.Talks about salvaging US country singer Garth Brooks' five Croke Park concerts will take place in Dublin later.
It follows an intervention by Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny, who asked a mediator to organise talks involving the city manager and the mayor.It follows an intervention by Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny, who asked a mediator to organise talks involving the city manager and the mayor.
Last week, Dublin City Council granted permission for only three concerts, and all five were cancelled on Tuesday.Last week, Dublin City Council granted permission for only three concerts, and all five were cancelled on Tuesday.
The singer told his promoter he would either perform all five gigs or none, but he would "go to the last second".The singer told his promoter he would either perform all five gigs or none, but he would "go to the last second".
Arrangements for the refunding of 400,000 tickets for the Croke Park concerts were revealed on Wednesday.Arrangements for the refunding of 400,000 tickets for the Croke Park concerts were revealed on Wednesday.
Later that day, a letter from the country music star to Irish concert promoter Peter Aiken was made public.Later that day, a letter from the country music star to Irish concert promoter Peter Aiken was made public.
In it, he wrote: "Our guys are still en route and if there is any chance that the five planned concerts can be salvaged and nobody is being let down then we can proceed as planned until the refunds begin."In it, he wrote: "Our guys are still en route and if there is any chance that the five planned concerts can be salvaged and nobody is being let down then we can proceed as planned until the refunds begin."
Garth Brooks is due to hold a news conference in Nashville at 17:00 BST where he is expected to address the issue of his Irish concerts.Garth Brooks is due to hold a news conference in Nashville at 17:00 BST where he is expected to address the issue of his Irish concerts.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, who is due to meet the council's chief executive Owen Keegan later on Thursday, said Mexico's ambassador to Ireland had offered his assistance. Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, who is due to meet the council's chief executive Owen Keegan on Thursday afternoon, said Mexico's ambassador to Ireland had offered his assistance.
"The Mexican ambassador contacted me yesterday and he offered his services at a diplomatic level if he could be any help," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ."The Mexican ambassador contacted me yesterday and he offered his services at a diplomatic level if he could be any help," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
"I had a group of residents from Ballybough who said they intend to call Barack Obama to try to encourage Garth Brooks to play in Dublin.""I had a group of residents from Ballybough who said they intend to call Barack Obama to try to encourage Garth Brooks to play in Dublin."
A parliament committee has called the GAA, Aiken Promotions and Dublin City Council to appear before a hearing on Friday aimed at establishing the chain of events that led to the concerts being cancelled.A parliament committee has called the GAA, Aiken Promotions and Dublin City Council to appear before a hearing on Friday aimed at establishing the chain of events that led to the concerts being cancelled.
Fine Gael TD John O'Mahony, chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, said there were strenuous efforts behind the scenes to salvage the concerts.Fine Gael TD John O'Mahony, chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, said there were strenuous efforts behind the scenes to salvage the concerts.
"The government can assist, but it can't interfere in the planning process, and emergency legislation isn't possible," he said."The government can assist, but it can't interfere in the planning process, and emergency legislation isn't possible," he said.
"New residents' representatives have emerged in recent days, many of them backing the concert - this is a very quickly evolving situation, and there's a sense that if heads can be knocked together that this can be salvaged."New residents' representatives have emerged in recent days, many of them backing the concert - this is a very quickly evolving situation, and there's a sense that if heads can be knocked together that this can be salvaged.
"Everything that can be done will be done by the government in the next few days.""Everything that can be done will be done by the government in the next few days."
Croke Park, owned by the GAA, is in a residential area in the north of the city, and some residents had threatened legal action after the initial two concerts were increased to five because of unprecedented demand.Croke Park, owned by the GAA, is in a residential area in the north of the city, and some residents had threatened legal action after the initial two concerts were increased to five because of unprecedented demand.
Dublin City Council granted permission last week for just three of the country singer's planned concerts later this month, but Aiken Promotions announced on Monday that having "exhausted all avenues", none of the shows would go ahead.Dublin City Council granted permission last week for just three of the country singer's planned concerts later this month, but Aiken Promotions announced on Monday that having "exhausted all avenues", none of the shows would go ahead.
It has been 17 years since Brooks' last concert in Dublin, and the Croke Park shows were supposed to mark his comeback.It has been 17 years since Brooks' last concert in Dublin, and the Croke Park shows were supposed to mark his comeback.