Garth Brooks Dumps Dublin Dates As Ireland’s Reputation Is Tarnished [OPINION]

As previously reported on Inquisitr, country music icon Garth Brooks was scheduled to play a total of five gigs in Dublin, Ireland at the end of this month. However, there were problems with two of the gigs, because they were added after the first three were scheduled, without permission from the licensing body. It also didn’t help that hundreds of complaints were received from residents who live near Croke Park, the venue where Brooks was set to take the stage.

The problem with the Garth Brooks concerts escalated a few days ago when Aiken Promotions, the company responsible for marketing the Garth Brooks shows, was told that the extra two dates would not be permitted. That’s because licenses for them would not be granted by the Dublin City Council. Brooks then issued an ultimatum, saying he would play all the gigs, or none at all. Eventually, councillors voted in favor of having all five concerts proceed as planned, but the Chief Executive of the Council, who had the final say, still did not change his mind about refusing to permit all five shows.

In total, 400,000 people were planning be in Dublin for the Garth Brooks gigs, and some were coming from abroad. Now, every one of them loses out on the opportunity to see Brooks perform. It’s no secret that Ireland, like many other parts of Europe, has fallen victim to tough economic times. These Garth Brooks engagements would have certainly provided a financial boost, along with numerous chances for tourists to experience firsthand the welcoming spirit that’s characteristic to the Emerald Isle.

Now that major news outlets outside of Ireland have tracked this emerging Garth Brooks story, it certainly won’t help the country be seen as a place that greatly respects music as an art form. Having spent a great deal of time in Ireland, I know the culture is rich with a genuine love musical expression, but that’s not the impression anyone would get by reading the news. Instead, the country is positioned as being wrapped up in logistics that should have been figured out months ago.

Although it’s difficult to lay the blame on a single party in this Garth Brooks debacle, I’m certainly not siding with the promotion company. While studying music business in college, one of the first things I learned is how important it is not to make gambles when it comes to things like getting permits for performances. Necessities like those should be secured as soon as possible, and certainly not the same month gigs are scheduled to occur.

Garth Brooks and his five-night run in Dublin would have undoubtedly been a huge moneymaker for Aiken Promotions. Instead, the promotion company is saddled with the burden of having to give hundreds of thousands of refunds for the Garth Brooks concerts, all while knowing the international music industry has its eyes on Ireland, and not in a good way.

[Image Credit: Kildare Street Hotel]