Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Photocall Ireland
croke park III

Kieran Mulvey called in to mediate Croke Park talks... on Garth Brooks

Residents have criticised the move as a “cosmetic PR exercise”.

THE MAN WHO chaired the original Croke Park Agreement (and its sequel, which was eventually renamed the ‘Haddington Road’ deal) will soon be back at work in Dublin 3.

Labour Relations Commission chief Kieran Mulvey is to chair talks between residents, GAA bosses and promoters with the aim of solving the dispute over the number of concerts being held at the stadium.

Eight massive gigs are planned at the venue this summer — Garth Brooks will play an unprecedented five dates as he stages a ‘comeback special’, while boy-band  One Direction will appear on three nights.

Local residents have said the volume of events represents a “serious and unacceptable threat”.

Asked about the GAA’s decision to seek the services of the LRC’s top negotiator, residents’ spokesman Patrick Gates said he was concerned it may be “some sort of cosmetic PR exercise”.

“There’s a lack of trust with the GAA,” Gates told Newstalk Breakfast. “They come up with new initiatives every time there’s a crisis.”

“They do it as a PR exercise to get them over the latest crisis, but then they don’t live up to what was agreed.”

He listed the issues of concern to residents as: “Public order, traffic congestion, litter and waste, broken bottles, drunkenness, aggressive behaviour, people urinating in the streets and in gardens — the list goes on.”

Gates called on the GAA to honour past agreements, “show some respect and have some empathy”.

A number of meetings attended by residents, Croke Park management, promoters ‘Aiken’ and local politicians were held last month.

According to councillor Nial Ring, Stadium Director Peter McKenna said at one of the meetings that it was was ‘okay’ for organisers to ignore a deal signed by GAA in 2009 agreeing to stage only three concerts per year as “time moves on”.

Read: ‘Talk to our lawyers’ residents tell Croke Park as sustained anti-concert campaign planned

Read: Hopes for a peace deal as Croke Park calls in local reps for Brooks talks

Your Voice
Readers Comments
87
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.