Garth Brooks gigs hailed as 'the biggest cultural event to hit Ireland'

Image via @garthbrooks on Instagram

The organisers of Garth Brooks' 5-night run at Croke Park in Dublin, say fans are in for an extravaganza.

The gigs, which begin on Friday, are being described as the biggest cultural event to hit Ireland.

The five concerts this Friday, Saturday and Sunday – with two more shows next weekend – come 8 years after Garth Brooks famously cancelled five sold out shows here at Croke Park.

Jim Clark from Aiken promotions says it’s about putting that right;
"The unique cultural element of this is that I don't think ever before we've had so many people from the country as a whole, I mean this is a celebration for right across Ireland."

Eamon O’Boyle, event controller, says fans will be treated to a spectacular one-off stage;
"A lot of the time, stadium gigs take place in a soccer stadium which is a lot smaller, the reality for Croke Park, is it's almost as wide as a soccer pitch is long".

Superintendent Martin Mooney says there will be extra buses, trains and trams operating;
"From 3pm, the hard cordon goes in place and that basically means the roads around the environs of Croke Park will be in lockdown".

There’s no support act so people are being advised to arrive on time, with gates open at 5 and the show starting at 7.30 sharp