Slane: NIMBY's complain to Meath County Council

However, in a classic demonstration of the Not In My Back Yard phenomenon that plagues Ireland three hundred Slane residents have signed a petition calling on Meath County Council to prevent Madonna playing there on Sunday August 29. The leader of the "NIMBY" campaign, Edward Hudson, also presented the council with a copy of a 1986 agreement in which Lord Henry Mountcharles allegedly suggests that no concerts would take place on a Sunday.
Talking to the Drogheda Leader, Hudson stressed that his problem wasn't the gig, but the day it was being staged on.
"It makes no provision for the very different situation that will exist on a Sunday or the fact that people will start arriving in the town on Friday night," he claims.
The Leader also highlights the objections of Ratoath councilor Nick Killian who wants MCD's licence application blocked on religious grounds! ... and a Kildare woman, Florence Craven, who accuses Madonna of "marching into the country and demanding exorbitant fees. Hospitals are more necessary than flying visits from over-sexed and overpaid drama queens."
Feelings are certainly running high in the village with "No Madonna" graffiti appearing on walls.
Interestingly, even though permission has yet to be granted, the laminates which are being issued to people who've bought VIP Platinum Package tickets for other dates on the tour include "Dublin, Ireland" on the reverse.
While industry sources here remain confident that Slane 2004 will eventually be green-lighted, the Re-invention Tour won't now be stopping off in Israel.
'I know Madonna really wanted to go but perhaps the political climate has been a bit difficult to plan such a huge undertaking in that area," says spokesperson Liz Rosenberg.