CROKE PARK residents are to protest outside the stadium three times tomorrow over what they say is the contempt shown to them by Dublin City Council, the GAA and the U2 concert promoters.
One of the protests will involve a slow-moving convoy of residents in their cars, designed to disrupt the work of dismantling the stage used for the three concerts, and putting down a new pitch.
The residents are particularly incensed that the works will take place continuously over a 44-hour period to get the stadium ready in time for the All-Ireland football quarter-finals next weekend.
Patrick Gates, chairman of the Croke Park Area Residents’ Alliance, said the dismantling works being carried out over two nights were the “salt in the wound” to follow the massive disruption caused by the three concerts.
Protests are planned at 1am, 7am and 6pm tomorrow. “Residents are invited to come out and show solidarity in defending our community against the decision of Dublin City Council to allow these anti-social working hours, and at the disrespect and contempt shown to the residents by Croke Park and the concert promoters, MCD,” Mr Gates said.
Residents were not against concerts he said, but they did not see why three had to be staged in the time allocated under the licence, when just two would have allowed the stage dismantling to take place in normal working hours.
Croke Park management has implored residents not to disrupt the dismantling work, and says it recognises the need for a “serious rethink” of the staging of future big events at the venue.
