Let's get it out of the way first, this is the first and only mention of Garth Brooks. It was a dark moment in our history that all that nonsense became such a big deal so let's all agree to consign it to the past and leave it there.
So, with that in mind, get ready for some arguments because Bruce Springsteen is coming to Croke Park this summer and he's moving some Championship matches to do so. The Irish Independent are this morning reporting that the gigs that have been rumoured for quite a while are now happening. A minimum of two, possibly three, concerts to be held at GAA headquarters in May will see The Boss delight his legions of Irish fans as The Championship will just have to wait its turn.
#GIGNEWS@springsteen & The E Street Band@CrokePark, Dublin
Fri 27 May 2016.
Tickets on sale Thurs 11 Feb at 9am! pic.twitter.com/qal90R1AW7— Aiken Promotions (@aikenpromotions) February 4, 2016
Friday 27th is guaranteed according to Aiken Promotions. Saturday 28th is also looking likely while Sunday 29th is also a possibility. As things stand, the GAA fixture calendar has Dublin vs Wexford in the Leinster Hurling Championship and Wexford vs Kildare in the Football Championship penciled in for Croker on 29th of May.
Given that the boss is on the way, it would now appear that some alternative arrangements will have to be made with headquarters playing host to Springsteen and the E Street band as opposed to a Wexford double header.
Given that everyone loves Springsteen (how could you not?), the issue of moving Championship fixtures to accommodate a concert may not be as divisive as it would be if we were talking about One Direction or Ed Sheeran. Both those gigs took place at HQ over the past couple of years but fixtures have not been affected.
That's changing this time around and it will certainly be interesting to see whether there's a fuss to be made about the GAA's decision. Having said that, Ireland really does love Springsteen, so if anyone can interrupt the Championship, he can.
