A country affair: Sense prevails in concert row

It seems commonsense has finally prevailed in the row over controversial GAA plans to stage five consecutive Garth Brooks concerts at Croke Park.

By giving the green light to just three gigs on July 25, 26 and 27, Dublin City Council has avoided setting a precedent.

With 400,000 tickets sold, 160,000 fans of the country singer will be disappointed on July 28 and 29, and the city will lose an estimated €20m. The organisers should now refund the ticket price.

Agreeing to five concerts before a licence was even granted was rash and smacks of greed. A lock-down scenario over five nights was a bridge too far and the council is to be applauded.

People living in the shadow of a giant stadium will always find major concerts contentious and few tears will be shed in the homes around Croke Park if, as rumoured, all five concerts were cancelled. That would be regrettable.

The GAA has only itself to blame.