Kenny hints at potential solution to Garth Brooks gigs

A potential solution has been put forward to allow the cancelled Croke Park concerts to go ahead later this month, "so that the 400,000 fans of Garth Brooks will have their concert," the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has said.

“Some people from my own department were in touch with those involved, and I know that a potential solution has been put forward, and I think that’s with the imprimatur of the City Manager. And let’s see if that’s accepted and if that can happen.”

Speaking at the launch of a new exhibition at the Chester Beatty Library last night, the Taoiseach said he hoped that “as the city manager and the promoter have come together, as the Gardaí and the city council and the residents I understand have withdrawn their objections, and as the representatives of the people down in the Dáil would like to see these things happen, I would hope this is one solution that might be acceptable.”

“So for those who are big followers of GB’s music, this would be a wonderful occasion.”

The Taoiseach insisted, however, that the Government would not be interfering in the decision made by Dublin City Council with regard to licenses for the concerts.

"Insofar as the Government can assist here, the Government are quite willing to do that. It's not a case of Mr Politician moving in on top of the law and saying you have to do this. We have processes and legal systems in the country here. At the same time, we have a very can-do attitude, and I think the progress made today by the City Manager, with the promoter, and all of the organisations involved, have put on the table now a potential solution, so let's see."

When asked about Brooks’s promise that he would “swim” any distance to have the five concerts in Croke Park go ahead, the Taoiseach quipped, “Well, that would be a world record.”