One thing that people havent factored in as a reason why this fiasco has occurred is the recent local elections. The outgoing council would have granted a licence for 5 nights but the new council is a bit more radical and bolshi and with the kick up the rear end that politicians got in those elections the new kids on the block are more intent on being seen to listen to the people. Whether they are actually listening to the majority however is a moot point...I see a third local residents group has now been formed to demand that all 5 concerts go ahead as planned.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2017 - 04/07/2014 20:11:54    1613933

"Whether they are actually listening to the majority however is a moot point...I see a third local residents group has now been formed to demand that all 5 concerts go ahead as planned."

I don't see the relevance of that to be honest. Just because someone else is willing to give up his/her rights doesn't mean I have to give up mine as well. And just because some residents don't care about the noise/traffic disruption, doesn't diminish in any way the rights of the others to a quiet and peaceful life.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 04/07/2014 20:23:55    1613941

Good man Jay P , at least someone is talking sense.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 04/07/2014 21:22:07    1613973

Not sure about the councilors changing things as aren't sf in control in that area now? And what I read is they seem very much in favor of it going ahead. All 5 that is.
Look the revenue issue is very relevant as most smes have factored in this extra revenue bookings etc into their businesses for the year, since their announcement. Its highly unusual for the license not to be granted, and every concert is subject to license. Now IMO as soon as these concerts or any other going forward a application must be made to relevant authorities within 14 days and a decision made after consultation with all concerned asap.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/07/2014 09:45:06    1614010

anfearbeag
County: Meath
Posts: 645

1613864
I know this is going off on a bit of a tangent, but it is relevant to this discussion. I think this episode highlights again the complete lack of any effort from the GAA in dealing with transport to and from Croke Park. It seems to just be accepted that any time there is any event on in Croke Park, the streets around will be completely blocked off, and traffic in the wider area will grind to a halt.
Croke Park practically sits on a train line. A train stop should have been incorporated into the design when Croke Park was being redesigned, and thousands of fans could travel there by train. There should be Park and Ride facilities at Swords, Finglas, Blanchardstown, and every other major route into the city with the buses dropping people into Clonliffe College. No-one should be driving or parking anywhere near Croke Park. Years ago, I went to the Grand National in Aintree. You weren't allowed bring a car anywhere close to venue without a residents permit. Parked the cark in a car park a few miles from the venue, hopped on a free shuttle bus and was there in no time. Instead of wasting money on a sports campus that no-one but the dubs will use, they should be putting the money into improving access to and from Croke Park. would alleviate a lot of the problems for the local residents.


Well said little man. Sure the powers that be in this little country wouldnt even think it worth their while to put a train station at the airport. Or dublin port. Sure who the hell would use them anyway.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 05/07/2014 13:03:28    1614054

Garth Brooks has been added to Dublin panel. Now he can play all his gigs in Croke Park.

Miler (Mayo) - Posts: 1015 - 05/07/2014 13:12:38    1614057

Surely anfearbeag if Brooks 5 concerts bring the total in Croke Park to 18 since 2008 (I am not certain on these stats to be fair), averaging 2.5 a year, then the GAA are not behaving that badly? The agreement is 3 a year but if there are none some years then surely it is reasonable to expect there can be a few additional concerts other years?
I see the Chair of the residents committee stated in April that they wouldn't enter discussions with Croke Park unless they backed down on plans to redevelop the handball centre (which is badly needed), and the only place they would negotiate with the GAA is in the High Court. There seem to be a lot of different issues here that need sorting out.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 05/07/2014 13:31:16    1614064

Y'all come back now Garth :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8753 - 05/07/2014 14:23:43    1614069

Agree 100% with anfearbeag suggestion to have a train stop in Croke Park or a Luas stop or any kind of rail transport. It was one of the suggested routes to the airport.But the powers that be in Dublin Council ruled that out. I understand a train stop was incorporated in the plans when redeveloping Croke Park but CIE refusing to use it (something about the width of the platform). Its at the Canal end. No doubt whtever the problem is could be sorted if there is a will. Indeed there is a rail line running at either end of Croke Park so its an obvious solution and would also benefit residents. A win/win for everybody. That is unless there is another agenda.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 05/07/2014 15:13:15    1614081

I wouldn't feel too much sympathy for those living around Croke park I have to say.Why did these people buy a house around the stadium in the first place? And also, what they have to put up with is nothing compared to what the people who live around Anfield and Old Trafford etc. have to go through.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 05/07/2014 15:18:40    1614082

To those calling for a train station at Croke Park..................have yous seen Drumcondra station?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 05/07/2014 17:00:09    1614115

Surely anfearbeag if Brooks 5 concerts bring the total in Croke Park to 18 since 2008 (I am not certain on these stats to be fair), averaging 2.5 a year, then the GAA are not behaving that badly? The agreement is 3 a year but if there are none some years then surely it is reasonable to expect there can be a few additional concerts other years?



I love the childish logic of that one. Sounds like just the thing my smart-ass 10 year old would come out with. "I know I'm only allowed one drink of juice every day, but I have had none all week, so I can drink the whole bottle today".
Not how that sort of agreement works I'm afraid, and if the GAA tries to pull that sort of a fast one then it reflects very badly on them. Three concerts is a year is three concerts maximum per year. Not 1 this year and five in a row next year. You have to take into account the cumulative effect that these concerts have on residents. Having 5 concerts on for five nights in a row is far more of an imposition on residents than having 6 concerts evenly spread out over a 2 year period.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 05/07/2014 19:56:08    1614201

I have seen Drumcondra St but its no good to those coming from City Centre or from South side. Better to have station at the stadium and it would cut out any possibility of annoying residents.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 05/07/2014 20:07:03    1614205

In and effort to use 'scare tactics' (and one is a fool to believe it is anything other) Brooks has said "Its 5 gigs in a row or nothing"!

OK Mr. Brooks......that'll be NOTHING so, thanks!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 05/07/2014 20:14:33    1614209

Why exactly does it matter to people who plays concerts in Croke Park? Its also bizarre that some people care about how many songs the attendees know. The snobbish logic here suggests that we need one committee to decide what bands are palatable to play in Croke Park. We can only let in bands where a set amount of patrons know more than a certain percentage of tracks. Thats a rather silly line of reasoning but unsurprising considering the poster who put it out on here. If you don't like the artist then don't go. I personally find it difficult to have a strong opinion on music i don't like unless i'm forced to listen to it.

The problem here is that none of the stakeholders to my knowledge are entirely blameless.

Firstly, the GAA pushed themselves into an unworkable position by signing up to an agreement that is unrealistic. Accusing Croke Park and the promotors as greedy is pathetic. They are in the business of generating profit for their individual purposes and i would imagine the amount of annual concerts in Croke Park is not excessive by international standards. I do not feel sorry for the GAA that this fiasco has occurred.

Secondly the DCC, they should shoulder a huge amount of the blame for their apparent out-moded mechanisms in relation to the granting of concert permits. Refusing a permit only a couple of weeks before a concert is totally unreasonable. What exactly were the DCC doing in all the intervening time in relation to this issue? If the promoters are to be believed that no initial opposition was put forward by the DCC then it makes them look more and more unfit for purpose.

Thirdly the residents. I have little sympathy for a person who moves into a location that a 82,000 capacity arena resides and then complains about disruption. I have also little sympathy for one who moves into the flight path of low flying aircraft or those who reside beside railways and then unreasonably complain. If you live in a location where a stadium or industry etc is introduced then fair enough but Croke Park has been there for over 100 years and disruption in that area is part and parcel of daily life. The advantages of living in such an area is also part and parcel of daily life it must be said. I imagine a significant amount of the employers in that area depend on Croke Park for a large percentage of their revenue and i also imagine many local people are employed in those services. Not to mention the local residents who gain profit through providing parking facilities and selling refreshments and merchandise in what i would imagine is not totally legal.

The promotors. I don't blame the promotors for seeking 5 nights in Croke Park. I wouldn't blame them for seeking 10 nights in a venue could they fill it and a demand was present. But if the promotors knew that their promotion was unprecedented then they should of sought exceptional assurance that such a promotion was going to be approved. I do not believe the promotors did enough to receive such assurance.

Lastly the artist, The artists position of 5 gigs or none is totally unreasonable. Nothing more needs to be added here.

The big losers here are the people of Dublin and those who have spent their hard earned cash in a weekend in our city. The service industry in our city is a key employer and such events are huge in relation to their scope to employ. If these concerts do not go ahead the reputation of Dublin as a city that has the capability to match other capital cities in Europe is in ruins.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 05/07/2014 20:14:48    1614210

Hey Seany16
Are you sure you live in Ireland,
you sound very reasonable.

rmtusa (USA) - Posts: 10 - 05/07/2014 20:44:51    1614230

Wrong!

Had these concerts gone ahead the biggest losers would have been:

The rule of LAW! (The right to 'Quiet Comfort') Enough is enough for the locals! Its a SPORTS VENUE, not a theatre!!
Honour and Integrity! (The GAA breaking its own agreement by 200% with the locals because of GAA greed)!
Democracy! (The City Council considers such applications for licences on behalf or the citizens of Dublin City based on what is """fair and reasonable""" for all citizens of the City). At a time of politics in this country being in the gutter - big money business must not and can not anymore be allowed to win the day over Dublin City Citizens!!!

Why can people not see the above which are crystal clear?!
How silly to think it has anything to do with the music or the singer!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 05/07/2014 20:46:51    1614233

Snuf, if you told the 400 000 people who booked tickets, as well as the many businesses, hotels etc who were delighted to receive a much needed boost in tough economic times about honour and integrity, I don't think that the DCC would be top of their list.
Look at the noise, disruption and damage that late night revelers create after stumbling out of pubs and nightclubs every night of the week, all over the country. If the right to peace and quiet is paramount, then surely you would support the permanent closure of every pub and club in the country.
The CPRA would have you believe that they are under siege. Were talking about a few flippin concerts. Chill.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 05/07/2014 21:02:10    1614259

Also very unhappy at the way people like Snuf are stupidly buying into this media driven idea of the GAA as the big bad wolf. the FAI and the IRFU would only love to swap places with the GAA I can assure you. What about the damage and disruption that Liverpool football club causes to the local residents around anfield road, 9 months of the year? Id say its ten times worse for them than it is for the Croke Park residents.
In my experience it costs a hell of alot lot more money to follow a premier league team than it does to follow your county, but lets forget about that and gang up on the GAA.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 05/07/2014 21:17:43    1614276

If the right to peace and quiet is paramount, then surely you would support the permanent closure of every pub and club in the country
joncarter
------------------------------

How does one come back against such daft comments!!....is it even worth it?

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 05/07/2014 21:19:06    1614277