Tickets for the concerts in the Three Arena later this year were snapped up in minutes, only for some to emerge for sale on second-hand sites for multiple times their face value.

The Government’s failure to curb ticket-touting was criticised again as some secondhand websites advertise tickets for the upcoming U2 concerts in Dublin for more than €1,700 each.

Controversies around ticketing for sporting events and major concerts have raged throughout 2017 — and the new year brings with it promises of legislation that will curb touting. Joe Leogue looks at the pros and cons of such a law, and asks those involved if it will work.

Keith English described the suggested laws, as proposed as “laudable” but said it would only “push this underground”.

The head of Ticketmaster in Ireland has warned that proposed anti-touting legislation will remove safeguards from consumers buying secondhand tickets from approved resale sites.

Tech-savvy touts who use computer programs to mine for concert tickets in vast quantities before selling them for huge profits are to face unlimited fines in the UK.

The GAA has “never done more” to tackle touts selling tickets at astronomical rates ahead of tomorrow’s All- Ireland football final.

Ireland is attracting huge amounts of inward foreign investment, but the country can not take for granted that the flows that helped drive the economy out of crisis will be repeated, a leading economist has warned.

A hundred new jobs are on the way to Limerick.

Forecourt retailer Applegreen will today announce the creation of 360 jobs.

An online ticket sales firm, Viagogo, has announced plans to open a new operations centre in Limerick which is expected to creates hundreds of jobs.

The Rugby Football Union is investigating the circumstances that led to a match ticket allocated to England fly-half Owen Farrell being sold on a ticketing website.

England rugby player Owen Farrell is under investigation after a ticket he was given for last weekend’s Six Nations clash was sold online to an Irish fan for five times its face value.

One Direction have beaten the Rolling Stones in the 2013 tour ticket battle.

The Rolling Stones are to perform with original bass player Bill Wyman for the first time in two decades when the rock veterans perform this weekend.

Landlady Peggy Mitchell gazes in despair at the charred remains of her beloved Queen Vic tonight - after her memories and livelihood went up in smoke.

A BBC commentator was forced to apologise to tennis prodigy Laura Robson today after pointing out her “puppy fat” on live television.

Michael Jackson fans who bought tickets for his shows at the O2 via eBay and PayPal will receive refunds, it was confirmed today.

Thousands of Michael Jackson fans who bought tickets to see his comeback shows at London’s O2 will have to wait until next week to find out how to get their money back.

Pop superstar Madonna has made history by officially endorsing the secondary ticket market - she's agreed a deal with a separate promoter from Live Nation to sell VIP packages and premium seats for her upcoming world tour.

The clamour for Rugby World Cup final tickets reached fever pitch today, with organisers releasing the last of them to desperate fans this afternoon.