WORKS TO relay the Croke Park pitch following three U2 concerts got under way yesterday evening when local residents agreed to call off a protest following a meeting with GAA president Christy Cooney.
Residents protested outside the north Dublin stadium yesterday to demonstrate their anger with Croke Park management and Dublin City Council for allowing 44 straight hours of work to remove the stage and replace the pitch for weekend GAA fixtures.
At 1am yesterday about 80 protesters blocked entrances to the stadium to prevent trucks entering and leaving. Speaking at the protest, Patrick Gates of the Croke Park Area Residents Association, said residents believed they had been treated despicably by both Croke Park management and Dublin City Council. “They completely hung the residents out to dry . . . and they have shown no duty of care for the residents allowing for three concerts over four days and then further work around the clock for two days,” he said. The council offered no comment last night.
The residents suspended their protest at 8am yesterday to allow trucks containing U2 concert equipment to move out following an agreement with promoters MCD. A later protest was called off and works to relay the pitch commenced after the meeting between the residents and Mr Cooney. “We have listened carefully to their views and we are committed to a process of dialogue . . . to achieve the best possible outcome . . . in the running of the major events at Croke Park,” Mr Cooney said. GAA Director General Páraic Duffy apologised “for any inconvenience caused to residents in the last 48 hours”.
Mr Gates earlier said the current number of events held in Croke Park was far greater than residents expected.
Earlier, U2 tour manager Jake Berry said the delays caused by the protest affected the band’s tour schedule. “We should all be not talking to you and be on a boat,” he said on RTÉs Morning Ireland.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Emer Costello, a local representative, said she could not understand how the licensing legislation for concerts was able to work as it did. “The licence for these concerts was only granted on July 8th and the issues should have been resolved long before then.”