To wonder why Irish people love Garth Brooks so much?

IvorCutler · 2022-09-09T20:40:37+00:00

He’s currently playing in Dublin (a series of gigs over this weekend and next). Apparently 1 in 14 people on the island of Ireland will attend 1 of his concerts… 1 in 3 in Monaghan and 1 in 5 in Tyrone. I’ve been living in Ireland for 20 years but haven’t met a fan (that I’m aware of). I find it fascinating that people here are so into him!

DuaneDibbley · 09/09/2022 21:43

Not just him - DH's family in NI are massively into country music.

KathySelden · 09/09/2022 21:43

He was a global superstar back in the day with no 1s everywhere but the uk, he fills stadiums. To some it’s akin to seeing Elton, Madonna or Queen. He just skipped us by but my husband who is Irish is a fan.

Tangled123 · 09/09/2022 21:46

As an Irish person, it baffles me as well. The love for him seems to have come out of nowhere, and I never hear people listen to him or request his stuff on the radio or anything.

BrandyandGinger · 09/09/2022 21:47

Colin Farrell used to go around the country line dancing professionally when Garth Brooks was at his 'Friends in Low Places' peak popularity. I don't know why but that fact always makes me smile.

BrandyandGinger · 09/09/2022 21:51

It is a weird phenomenon. Chris Stapleton now is as big a superstar as Garth was back in the day. He played in Dublin a few years ago and I didn't hear anything much about it. Maybe it's just Garth we like, not country music in general.

meateatingveggie · 09/09/2022 21:56

I'm not Irish and I would LOVE to see him. In fact he's probably the only person I'd be bothered seeing

BrandyandGinger · 09/09/2022 22:06

There won't be many more posts on this thread tonight because all the Irish mumsnetters are up in Dublin partying and not checking their phones. I wish I was with them. He's supposed to be a great performer, in the Bruce Springsteen league.

stayathomer · 09/09/2022 22:06

I’m Irish and when he was fighting for the 5th date I was saying’for goodness sake, stop!!’ I don’t get it but then I’m not a country music fan

Original poster

IvorCutler · 09/09/2022 22:06

BrandyandGinger · 09/09/2022 22:06

There won't be many more posts on this thread tonight because all the Irish mumsnetters are up in Dublin partying and not checking their phones. I wish I was with them. He's supposed to be a great performer, in the Bruce Springsteen league.

Ha, so it seems!

OP posts:

Wanda616 · 09/09/2022 22:08

Can confirm, am from NI and have seen him live as has all my immediate family, and many friends are.seeing this set of concerts :D

J0y · 09/09/2022 22:08

ha, he sure does have his fans here.

romdowa · 09/09/2022 22:10

On all my irish Facebook mam groups People have been trying to sell tickets all week🤣 I haven't much interest in seeing him but irish people seem to love concerts in general.

honeyfox · 09/09/2022 22:11

I'm Irish and have no interest in seeing him, but if my dear departed mum was around she'd love to see him. She did line dancing classes in the nineties. I'm from the west and lots of people there love country music. I think I had so much of it growing up I became allergic 😂

Mayorquimby2 · 09/09/2022 22:11

Just file out in the drawer marked "weird culchies" and move on. I don't think it'll ever be understood

JaneJeffer · 09/09/2022 22:14

As a weird culchie I object to anyone thinking that I could ever love Garth Brooks

Joolsin · 09/09/2022 22:17

I'm not going!

Mayorquimby2 · 09/09/2022 22:19

Too late, it's been filled.

Weird culchies, case closed

Hopefullysoon2022 · 09/09/2022 22:23

I remember when he was huge in the 90s in Ireland.
Friends in Low Places was always played.

Hes harmless but i really dont get it either.
And i have also seen people trying to flog their tickets.

TowerStork · 09/09/2022 22:28

I'm from rural Ireland and remember Brooks being played a lot on local radio in the 90s. I think part of the appeal now is nostalgia. Plus many in rural Ireland relate to US country music. Personally I was not more into Rage Against the Machine but that isn't family friendly music to play during a bake sale in the local hall.

TowerStork · 09/09/2022 22:29

TowerStork · 09/09/2022 22:28

I'm from rural Ireland and remember Brooks being played a lot on local radio in the 90s. I think part of the appeal now is nostalgia. Plus many in rural Ireland relate to US country music. Personally I was not more into Rage Against the Machine but that isn't family friendly music to play during a bake sale in the local hall.

"More into" that is

TooBigForMyBoots · 09/09/2022 22:32

Waaay back I worked on his Dublin dates. He was lovely, everyone on the crew was very complimentary.😊

The show was fucking incredible on every single level.🤯 I have never seen a performer connect as well with an audience in my life. The energy was amazing. The audience at those concerts are not spectators, they are participants.

Plus he liked to hang out in low, local places. Garth Brooks is an absolute sweetheart IRL and a Superstar on stage.🤩🤩🤩

JenniferWooley · 09/09/2022 22:32

I'm only part Irish & do like Garth Brooks but I much prefer his wife.

Hollyhobbi · 09/09/2022 22:37

I'm an Irish culchie even though I live and work in Dublin now. And I don't know anyone who likes him. I've seen a few tickets for sale on our work intranet though. I read somewhere that 400000 people will see him over the 5 days! I'd say that's more than saw Pope Francis when he came here!

BrandyandGinger · 09/09/2022 22:39

I think some of it is down to the video for The Dance. It features JFK and John Wayne. Everybody's mother loved JFK and John Wayne was more or less Irish because of The Quiet Man.

Janedoe82 · 09/09/2022 22:41

I know at least five people who are going. He is great.