Garth Brooks makes one last appeal for Dublin shows

In a startling new development in the Garth Brooks saga, the country superstar has written an open letter to promoter Peter Aiken, which opens the door again for the concerts to be saved.

The singer has promised that if the powers-that-be can do anything than he will “faithfully go to the last second.”

Following the huge outpouring of public anger about the cancellation of the five shows, the opportunity clearly exists for a change of heart on the part of Dublin City Council. Alternatively the possibility exists that the government might introduce emergency legislation, bestowing powers of the kind that exist in London – where the Mayor has the right to over-ride any opposition, to make events happen – on a suitable public figure. Candidates would include the Minister for the Environment or the Taoiseach – in this instance, Enda Kenny.

As has become clearer and clearer over the past few days, it is a decision that would be overwhelmingly in the public interest. It would be right for Dublin city. And it would be right for Ireland. The question now is, do the relevant authorities have the bottle to do it?

“I cannot begin to tell you how badly my heart is breaking right now,” Garth Brooks writes in the letter.

“I hope you understand,” he goes on, "that to play for 400,000 people would be a dream, but to tell 160,000 of those people that they are not welcome would be a nightmare.

“To do what the city manager suggests (play three shows and not all five) means I agree that is how people should be treated and I just can’t agree with that. Our guys are still en route and if there is any chance that the five planned concerts can be salvaged and nobody is being let down then we can proceed as planned until the refunds begin.”

And he addresses Peter Aiken directly. “If you tell me, ‘Garth, thanks but it is over’, I will cease my efforts and bring our people and gear back to the States. If you think that for any reason that the ‘powers that be’ in Ireland can fix this, then I will faithfully go to the last second.”

“Please let me know how to proceed,” he concludes. And he signs off: "All my gratitude, respect, and love to you and Ireland, G.”