Croke Park residents association prepared to compromise for three concerts, but no more

Garth Brooks: Croke Park residents will object to more than three concerts.

A representative of the Croke Park Area Residents Association has said they are opposed to more than three concerts per year in the GAA stadium.

Colm Stephens, Public Relations Officer for the Clonliffe and Croke Park Area Residents Association told Newstalk Breakfast that they were prepared to “bend over backwards” and compromise with the GAA for three concerts, but not for anymore.

The residents association has called on Dublin City Council to reject any further applications for additional concerts in Croke Park in 2022 and voiced their opposition at a meeting with the GAA last night.

Mr Stephens pointed out that Croke Park was “a huge building” set in the middle of a residential area, and that there was no traffic infrastructure in place to deal with the crowds attending such events.

It’s like having a nightclub for 80,000 people in the middle of a residential area.

While some businesses such as shops and bars welcomed the concerts because of increased business, there were others who had to close when there were concerts in Croke Park, he said.

Mr Stephens said that there had been “hilarity” at the public meeting on Thursday night when Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna had “made the poor mouth” saying that the GAA was “broke.”

Lawyer Noeline Blackwell, who chaired the community meeting has said that there was a year before the second group of concerts planned for 2022 and that time should be used wisely to work out a solution.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show, Ms Blackwell explained that Croke Park had ongoing permission to host three concerts, but had received planning permission for two further concerts next year.

The meeting on Thursday for which she served as an independent chairperson heard concerns from residents about traffic disruption and anti-social behaviour such as public urination.

The differing points of view had been “clearly put” at the meeting, she said. It was clear that “much more work needs to be done," she added.

“The point for me is that the next step needs to be about everyone getting together to ensure a safe and satisfactory experience.” 

Her job had been to facilitate the meeting, not act as mediator, to see that people with a point of view were heard.

Croke Park was now legally entitled to run five concerts in 2022, the local residents needed to discuss their concerns with Croke Park, she said.

“There is a year, and that year should be used wisely about building structures and the serious impact on residents. There will be an opportunity for people to become involved and to work out a solution.

“We will just have to work with people to build the best possible experience.”

Garth Brooks is due to play three shows at the venue, in addition to two dates already booked for Ed Sheeran, while Bruce Springsteen is also expected to play at the same venue in April.

In 2014, residents in the area objected to an extended run of gigs after an agreed quota of outdoor stadium shows had been fulfilled.