Garth still has friends in unlikely places

He was the man who drew 400,000 people together but has driven next-door neighbours apart.

And if that sounds like a mawkish theme straight from a country and western songbook, then there’d be no better man to sing it than Garth Brooks.

The neighbourhood around Croke Park was divided after the decision by Dublin City Council to reduce the star’s five-day concert run to three days threw doubts over the entire venture.

One man who hadn’t given up hope of having the full Garthfest was publican Paddy McGowan of McGowan’s pub in nearby Phibsborough, who took his views to the street with a life-size cardboard cut-out of the man himself.

“We’ve had five or six terrible hard years. We are struggling — publicans, everyone in hospitality. This can bring a massive amount of money for pubs, for hotels, for jobs,” he said.

“There may be a few discombobulated residents, but they do live beside a big stadium. Come on lads, enjoy the fun — that’s what I say. Get out there and have a street party. Let’s all win for once.”

Molly Sullivan’s rear garden backs on to stadium, however, and that gives her a different perspective.

“Obviously, we knew about Croke Park when we bought the house. But we’re being skewered on this — that we’re a bunch of whingeing people who should have known better.

“We were led to believe there would be a certain amount of activity at the stadium, but it’s being used as a venue for more and more things. We don’t complain about the matches or about the three concerts a year. We don’t complain about the fact that it’s not just the evenings — that there are sound checks all day.

“But we were gobsmacked when they announced one concert after another and the agreement with the residents just went out the window.

“I think the residents felt that they were really pushed into a corner on this one and that if they did not stand up to this it would set a precedent for anything Croke Park wanted to do.”

Across the road, mother-of-two, Sinead Lucey, who was cradling her four-week-old baby girl, was pleased the council had cut the number of concerts, but was concerned about the pressure it was coming under to reverse the decision.

“The residents have to live with the decision to go ahead for the three nights — which does not actually meet what we would see as a reasonable arrangement, but nevertheless it’s the lawful decision — so Dublin City Council have to abide by it.

“Access in and out of home just becomes impossible on big days at the stadium.”

But around the corner, another neighbour who didn’t want her name used, said she didn’t mind the five nights.

“I have tickets myself for the Saturday. There is a little bit of inconvenience but you build your life around it.

“I heard someone say we’re under lockdown. That’s not true. I also heard someone say the houses here lose €30,000 to €40,000 off their value, but there’s a house up the road here after selling for €425,000 so I think the reverse is true.

Kenneth Byrne said he was delighted the council cut short the concerts. “The whole area comes to a standstill. People can’t get to their homes.”

Christopher O’Kelly has lived opposite Croke Park all his 72 years and can’t understand the fuss.

“There is a group of people around here who don’t believe in having any fun. The roads are only closed from 6pm so it’s no inconvenience.

“If you went around and did a poll, I’d say 95% of the people have no problem with those concerts.”

Christopher recalled when big events at Croke Park were not so well organised. “Before they started closing the roads and that, there’d be people nearly parking in your garden and having tea in your house, but that doesn’t happen any more.

“Oh and by the way — I don’t even like Garth Brooks. I think he’s brutal.”