Garth Brooks: Cancelling 2014 Croke Park gigs like a 'death in the family'

Country music star Garth Brooks on the roof of Croke Park in Dublin to promote his two Irish concerts which will take place next September. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Country music star Garth Brooks has said not getting to play his five sold out gigs in Ireland in 2014 felt like a “death in the family”.

Back in the country today to launch his two gigs next year, Mr Brooks called it the “greatest heartache” not to be able to play last time given how highly he thinks of Ireland.