THERE will be only one U2 concert at Lansdowne Road as far as Dublin Corporation is concerned, the High Court was told yesterday.
U2 is scheduled to play one concert at Lansdowne Road on August 30th next and there has been speculation that a second concert might be held.
Mr James Macken SC, for the corporation, told Mr Justice Smyth yesterday that while there had been speculation that there might be two concerts, as far as his clients were concerned there would be only one.
The Irish Rugby Football Union had applied to the court for a determination as to whether planning permission was required for concerts at Lansdowne Road.
Mr Colm Allen SC, for the IRFU trustees, stated that the corporation had given the go ahead for the August 30th concert, subject to the IRFU seeking a judicial determination on the status of the ground for the holding of concerts.
The IRFU trustees were anxious to have the matter clarifled. The IRFU had been in contact with Dublin Corporation. The corporation had agreed that there was a substantial issue to be determined.
The High Court deferred a decision until today on an application by the IRFU for leave to seek judicial review on whether future concerts at Lansdowne Road needed planning permission.
Mr Macken said his instructions were that the rugby union had on a number of occasions in the past held concerts at Lansdowne Road, The IRFU had made clear that it did not regard the holding of a concert as being a development or material change of use.
The corporation had taken the view that perhaps 90 per-cent of the factors necessary to be taken into account regarding planning were already in place, They related to the provision of stands, toilets, exits and entrances.
Lansdowne Road was a purpose-built national stadium and had held a large number of events, including concerts by such people as Frank Sinatra.
Mr Macken said the corporation had taken the view that were the IRFU to give an undertaking that the U2 concert would be the last and only concert at Lansdowne Road until the position was resolved, and taking other matters into consideration, there should be an early bearing next term.
The concert should go ahead in the interests of all, including the general public.