Garth Brooks confirms cancelled Dublin concerts in statement

Country singer said he was 'crushed' by the decision to cancel five shows

Garth Brooks, Country Music Singer (Getty)

Garth Brooks has issued a statement confirming that none of his five Croke Park concerts will go ahead in Dublin.

The country singer said he was “crushed” that the concerts will not take place, despite an offer to push back some of the shows until later in the year.

Dublin City Council had originally offered to cancel two of the live performances due to complaints from residents about traffic and noise.

But Brooks said he would rather cancel all the shows than choose which one to do, likening the choice to “choosing one child over another”.

In a statement, he said: “To say I am crushed is an understatement. All I see is my mother’s face and hear her voice. She always said things happen for a reason and for the right reason. As hard as I try, I cannot see the light on this one.

“So it is with a broken heart, I announce the ticket refunds for the event will go as posted by TicketMaster.”

He went on to thank the 400,000 fans who had bought tickets to the concert.

“I want to thank the Irish authorities for going the distance for all of us who wanted to share songs and dance together. I really want to thank all the people around the world that continued to think good thoughts that this would actually happen.

“Most of all, to Peter Aiken [of Aiken Promotions] and those 400,000 people who believed enough to go through what they have been through to get to this point…I love you, always have, always will.

“I encourage any and all of them that can come see the show, at some point around the world, to bring your Irish flags and wave them proudly at the concerts. I will be looking for you.…garth.”

Brook’s concerts had been billed as a “Comeback Special” for the 52-year-old singer who had been in semi-retirement for more than a decade.

The American country singer is one of the best-selling artists in the US.

Read more: Garth Brooks cancels all Dublin shows