Garth Brooks makes big Irish announcement one year on from Croke Park gigs

Country music legend Garth Brooks has made an announcement about his Irish gigs in an impromptu live video interaction with his fans on social media.

The Friends In Low Places star famously played five nights at Croke Park in 2022, 25 years on from his three-night stint in the GAA stadium in 1997.

The 2022 gigs followed much controversy in 2014 when planning issues barred him from playing five nights in Croker. Tickets had already been sold but unwilling to reach agreement, the gigs were cancelled leaving fans devastated.

The gigs last year were a huge success with fans from all over Ireland and the World enjoying hits like The Dance, Callin Baton Rouge and The River at the sold-out shows.

Now, Garth has announced that some of those spine-tingling performances that will live long in the memory for fans will be immortalised in his new live album. His first live album, Double Live, remains one of the best-selling records of all time in the US, going platinum 21 times since its release in 1998.

This new album, Killer Live, has been in the works since before Garth started his three-year stadium tour across the US and it looks like the loud-singing Croke Park fans have made the cut.

Speaking on a live Facebook video on Monday, Garth responded live to fan questions, including a couple from Ireland. The country star's eyes lit up when he saw a picture of himself in Croke Park last year with the stage illuminated in the tricolour behind him.

An Irish fan asked: "You held up the Croke Park poster behind you a few weeks ago - are you hinting at any Ireland related announcements soon? You mentioned a record of its own maybe? Any tease on the anniversary."

In response, Garth said: "When we mention a record of its own, we're talking about Killer Live."

He told fans he's been working on "assembling" songs for the album for almost five years but said it could take another year and a half to finish. It will feature live performances of his biggest hits from various venues across the US, as well as from his run in Croke Park.

He said the album's got "cool moments" like a tribute to Leonard Skynard in Alabama and James Taylor in North Carolina. 

While not specifically saying which tracks from Croke Park will feature, he said, "we've got a lot of good things coming."

One hint came a little earlier in the live video when Garth mentioned his performance of The Dance in Croke Park as a stand-out moment. He was asked when fans can expect to see the live video of the Croke Park, something that has been promised. 

Garth kept tight-lipped on dates and joked "you ain't ready to see it. You ain't going to be ready for what you see. I wasn't and I thought I saw it from the best seat in the house."

Visibly tearing up on the video, he added: "Reliving the thought right now, I'm sitting here crying, especially The Dance. Should anyone get through The Dance without crying, because everyone in the crowd's crying. It's great.

"I've been watching day after day the frames of Ireland, they're putting them all together right now. I was there and I remember every second of it and still, I find myself crying. Just goosebumps.

"The guys that captured it did a great job but the crowd, their voices. They'll do the big drone and helicopter shots and just that sound coming out of that stadium,of all those voices singing together. Man, it will rock your world."

So, it looks like fans will have to wait a little longer to relive the live performance in Croke Park on video and the new live album but excitement is certainly building.

Garth Brooks played Croke Park for five nights last year, on September 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17.