Garth Brooks announces 10 Irish concerts!

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman. On Newstalk, with Ciara.

Shane Colman (0:16)

Yeah, country music superstar Garth Brooks has announced 10 concerts across five Irish cities for next year. The single will perform two shows each in Belfast, Galway, Colquhainny, Limerick and Cork next May and June. We're joined by Jackie Conboy, co-founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland. Jackie, that is some number of concerts. Is there a rough calculation as to how many people will see him over those 10 gigs?

Jackie Conboy (0:44)

You know, it's something I didn't sit down and try and dot up the figures, but I'm just so delighted that it's spread across the country, that he's just such a huge artist and such a huge following. And rural Ireland, like the last concert I was at, the amount of people from all over the country, and even from the north that came down to Dublin, just was incredible. It was insane, really. And the age group, from young to old, what an atmosphere, what an artist.

Shane Colman (1:25)

Why are you so happy he's going around the country, as opposed to just doing it in Croke Park?

Jackie Conboy (1:32)

I always have this thing about that, look, it all doesn't revolve around Dublin. We need to get past the M50, and to spread this around the various cities, it's going to bring so much, I suppose it's going to bring for restaurants, hotels, bars, all that. It's going to mean such a difference to them for that time of the year.

Then the tourism value of it, there'll be so many people coming in from the UK, from all over Europe, from the US. You know, it's going to be a huge, huge win for businesses right around the country.

Shane Colman (2:22)

Look, I'll lay my cards on the table.

I'm not a Garth Brooks fan. Explain to me what the appeal is about a US country singer to Irish audiences.

Jackie Conboy (2:33)

Well, you see, what maybe, and look, you wouldn't be really in touch with what's going on, you know, in rural, say in rural Ireland.

Shane Colman (2:41)

Hang on a second, hang on a second, Jackie. I'm from rural Ireland, so don't be making assumptions that I'm some kind of city slicker, you know.

Jackie Conboy (2:48)

I know I put you down as a city slicker, but maybe you're not, but like country music.

Shane Colman (2:55)

In fairness, I've lived a mile from O'Connell Street for the last 31 years, so you might have a point. You've lost it.

Jackie Conboy (3:03)

You've lost the ruralness. But like again, it just shows country music is so huge, and it's unfortunate that we have so many great Irish country artists that tour constantly and go abroad and do all kinds of stuff. But the likes of Garth Brooks coming over here, it will show people the popularity that there is out there for his music, and in his music is the stories.

It brings it back to basic stuff, falling in love, falling out of love, losing someone. It brings it back to basics, and people relate to that, and it just shows with the numbers that will be attending these concerts. Now, I do hope, Shane, that we have some Irish artists that will be supporting.

Shane Colman (3:59)

Oh yeah, that would be nice, wouldn't it?

Jackie Conboy (4:02)

Oh, this would be, what a step up for up and coming artists to get on that, get on the support slots. It would be incredible.

Shane Colman (4:11)

Okay, just before you go, where will you go and see them?

Jackie Conboy (4:16)

Now, well again, I have a choice. I could go to Kilkenny, I could go to Limerick. I doubt I'll be going to Dublin because every time I have to face Dublin, I go, oh my god, that M50 and the traffic and parking.

Shane Colman (4:30)

That's not that bad. I don't think he's playing in Dublin at the moment.

Jackie Conboy (4:36)

No.

Shane Colman (4:36)

It's Belfast, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Cork, so no Dublin. So we're getting left out here in the capital.

Jackie Conboy (4:42)

Well it's no harm. It's no harm every so often that you have to travel, that you're going to have to get the bus or the whatever train down somewhere. But look, there's loads of places. I mean, it's easy hop on the train and get to Belfast as well.

So get your hat out, Shane. Get your hat and your boots out.

Shane Colman (5:03)

I will. I'm looking forward to it. Listen, great to talk to you. Jackie Conboy, co-founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland. Let us know. Are you going to see Garth Brooks? What is the appeal? I'm genuinely curious. I don't get it personally, but I know loads of you out there do and it's brilliant.