COME TO ‘BLAYNEY INVITE FOR GARTH

An estimated 30% of the Co Monaghan population went to Croke Park to see Garth Brooks at the weekend. And the American country and western legend has been asked to return the favour – and visit the REAL home of country in Ireland – by Co Monaghan’s first citizens. Monaghan Co Council Cathaoirleach Seán Conlon and Leas Cathaoirleach Aoife McCooey this week issued an invitation to the Tulsa troubadour to come to Castleblayney, recognised as the spiritual home of country music in Ireland thanks to the late Big Tom McBride, whose statue in ‘Blayney town centre they are posing with in this picture.

‘Blayney native Councillor McCooey, who has initiated an online #BrooksToBlayney campaign, hopes her move will be backed up by an official invite from the local authority. “It would be fantastic to see Garth come to Castleblayney, or even acknowledge the contribution that Co Monaghan had made to country music and the appreciation we have for it, particularly in the town here,” she stated. 18,000 tickets were sold in Co Monaghan for Brooks’ five-night series of Croke Park concerts.