Garth Brooks will be taking over Dublin for the foreseeable future, with the American country singer in the middle of a five-show run in Croke Park.
Brooks played his first gig on Friday night and will play again on Saturday and Sunday, before two more gigs next weekend.
As with all gigs in Croke Park, the local residents of Dublin 1 will feel the impact most keenly, as hoards of fans in cowboy hats and boots descend upon the stadium over the coming day.
It will certainly be a chaotic few days for local residents but, in a show of appreciation for the Dublin locals, Garth Brooks popped by a nearby playground on Saturday afternoon to play a few songs and meet with some happy locals.
Gary Gannon shares wholesome Garth Brooks video
Garth Brooks finally made his way to Dublin this week, almost eight years after his doomed five-night run at Croke Park was called off.
TD Gary Gannon shared a video on his Twitter account on Saturday which shows Brooks mixing with locals at Portland Place, a stone's throw away from the Canal End at Croker.
The video appears to show fans singing along to the Brooks song 'The Dance', as the man himself poses for photos with the crowd.
Cynical as you can be about the whole thing, Garth Brooks is currently having a sing song with me Ma and all the women of Portland Place in the playground & it is absolutely lovely.. ☺️ #GarthInIreland pic.twitter.com/kWxE4ocgfb
— Gary Gannon TD (@GaryGannonTD) September 10, 2022
Dublin 1 and the area surrounding Croke Park is effectively shut down whenever concerts arrive in the stadium, so for Garth Brooks himself to take the time out to visit locals and bring a bit of music to their afternoon is a lovely touch.
One tweet said:
Fair play to Garth Brooks out socialising and chatting with the residents of Portland Place District, Dublin 1 many who won't get to go but will be dealing with the carnage afterwards. Says a lot about him chatting & taking photos with the kids. #GarthBrooksDublin
It's a small gesture, but one that will have endeared Garth Brooks to many of the Dublin locals who will be affected by his concerts. Maybe the five-night run in Croker wasn't such a bad idea after all...
SEE ALSO: Wayne Lineker's Surreal Ibiza Tribute To The Queen Will Never Be Forgotten
