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Court challenge to save Garth Brooks concerts unlikely

Updated 16.57 It looks like Aiken Promotions will not be going to the High Court in a last ditch ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.20 16 Jul 2014


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Court challenge to save Garth...

Court challenge to save Garth Brooks concerts unlikely

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.20 16 Jul 2014


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Updated 16.57

It looks like Aiken Promotions will not be going to the High Court in a last ditch effort to save the five Garth Brooks concerts.

The concert promoters indicated to an Oireachtas Committee earlier that if anything could be done to save the shows it would have to be done today.

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Rumours of a High Court challenge were rife after an appearance by Peter Aiken at the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee this morning.

The expectation was that the Garth Brook concert promoter would seek a judicial review of the decision by Dublin City Council not to grant a license for two of the five shows.

Because the concerts were scheduled for the end of this month, the timeframe for any legal action to be resolved was extremely small.

Aiken told the Oireachtas committee any resolution would have to come about today.

Applying for an injunction would only make sense if it was uncontested by the Council. So far, no papers have been lodged with the court which suggests a challenge is extremely unlikely.

Stadium director Peter McKenna earlier contradicted Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan regarding what happened in the run up to the decision to grant only three concerts.

Mr. McKenna told the committee he is prepared to make a sworn statement that he received a verbal assurance from Mr. Keegan that the City Council supported the idea of giving a license for five concerts.

But Peter McKenna told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that there is one small glimmer of hope.

The Director-General of the GAA said they were told by Dublin City Council that five Garth Brooks concerts 'would be no problem'.

Paraic Duffy told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that stadium manager Peter Mc Kenna was given assurances by Owen Keegan in a phone call.

The Oireachtas Transport Committee is to call Mr. Keegan back in tomorrow - after hearing the conflicting evidence from the GAA today.

Meanwhile a country music initiative aimed at getting fans to visit Dublin is being launched.

'Dublin Goes Country' is being organised by the Department of Tourism and Failte Ireland. It will take place over the weekend of July 25th, when the first concert was due to take place.

Fáilte Ireland has developed the campaign with some specially created country and western events. These will include a series of music events at a variety of venues; themed menus at Dublin bars and restaurants and a series of nightly events featuring food, dance and music.

Highlights announced today include:

  • Whelan's Bluegrass, Country & Roots Festival, July 25-27th
  • "In Lonesome Dame" live Outdoor music in the Dame Street District, July 25-27th
  • An 'OK Corral' Busking Trail (Sat 26th July) from the Grafton Quarter to Wolf Tone Square
  • Stetson and the City (Friday 25th) - a one day music trail, organised by the people behind Breakingtunes Irish Music portal and Hard Working Class Heroes Festival

Junior Tourism Minister Michael Ring explains.

Ticketmaster will begin the refund process for 400,000 fans tomorrow morning at 9am.


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