American country singer Garth Brooks has added a third Belfast concert to his 2027 Irish tour, scheduling an outdoor show at Boucher Playing Fields on 23 May after his two original dates sold out.
The additional date brings the total number of concerts on Brooks' Irish tour to 11, with shows already planned across the island of Ireland. Brooks will play at Boucher Playing Fields on 21, 22 and 23 May 2027, marking his first performances in Belfast since a five-night run at the King's Hall in November 1998. After that stint, Brooks said the fan reaction left his ears "ringing for three days".
Tickets for the original two Belfast dates went on sale on Thursday morning and are now sold out. The additional date was announced following strong demand. Promoter Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions told RTÉ the new date was “red hot” and that there could be a fourth Belfast concert.
The Irish tour also includes two shows each in Galway (29 and 30 May at Pearse Stadium), Kilkenny (4 and 5 June at UPMC Nowlan Park), Limerick (11 and 12 June at TUS Gaelic Grounds) and Cork (18 and 19 June at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh). Tickets for those concerts are priced from €136.25 for standing and €156.25 for seated admission, plus service charges.
Brooks last performed in Ireland in September 2022, playing five sold-out shows at Dublin's Croke Park to more than 400,000 fans. Those concerts marked his return to the country after five planned Croke Park concerts in 2014 were cancelled amid a licensing dispute.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The sellout and addition of a third show demonstrate exceptionally strong demand for Garth Brooks in a market where he has not performed in nearly three decades.
- Fans who missed out on tickets have another opportunity to see the artist, and the possibility of a fourth date suggests sustained interest.
- The string of concerts across Ireland will bring significant economic activity to the host cities.
Background
Garth Brooks is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with a career spanning decades. He last performed in Belfast in 1998 and his most recent Irish shows were five sold-out concerts at Dublin's Croke Park in 2022. A planned residency at the same venue in 2014 was cancelled after a licensing dispute.
What to Watch
- Whether promoter Peter Aiken announces a fourth Belfast date.
- How quickly tickets for the newly added show sell.
- The overall turnout and reception for Brooks' first Belfast concerts in 29 years.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBrooks added an extra Belfast date after the two original shows sold out.BBC Northern Ireland: “Garth Brooks has added an extra Belfast date to his 2027 tour after his two original shows in the city sold out.”
- SupportedBrooks will play three nights at Boucher Playing Fields in May 2027.BBC Northern Ireland: “The new date, an outdoor concert at Boucher Playing Fields, will take place on 23 May. Brooks will also play two gigs at the same location on 21 and 22 May 2027.”
- SupportedThe additional Belfast concert is scheduled for 23 May.RTÉ News: “The country music superstar will now perform at Boucher Road Playing Fields on Sunday 23 May 2027”
- SupportedThe additional Belfast date brings the Irish tour total to 11 concerts.RTÉ News: “The country music superstar will now perform at Boucher Road Playing Fields on Sunday 23 May 2027, bringing the total number of concerts on his Irish tour to 11.”
- SupportedBrooks will play Belfast on 21, 22 and 23 May 2027.BBC Northern Ireland: “Brooks will also play two gigs at the same location on 21 and 22 May 2027.”
- SupportedThe Belfast concerts are his first performances there since a five-night run at the King's Hall in November 1998.BBC Northern Ireland: “The gigs will be the first time he has performed in Belfast since 1998. Brooks' last gigs in the city were a five-night run at the King's Hall in November 1998”
- SupportedAfter the 1998 run, Brooks said the fan reaction left his ears “ringing for three days”.BBC Northern Ireland: “after which he said the reaction from fans left his ears "ringing for three days".”
- SupportedThe two original Belfast dates sold out.RTÉ News: “Brooks' original Belfast concerts on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 May are now sold out”
- SupportedAiken Promotions' Peter Aiken told RTÉ the new Belfast date was “red hot”.BBC Northern Ireland: “Peter Aiken, from Aiken Promotions, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that the new Belfast gig is "red hot".”
- SupportedAiken said there could be a fourth Belfast show.BBC Northern Ireland: “"There could be a fourth show in Belfast," Aiken said.”
- SupportedThe tour includes two shows each in Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Cork on the listed dates and at the listed venues.RTÉ News: “He will play Pearse Stadium in Galway on 29 and 30 May, UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny on 4 and 5 June, TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on 11 and 12 June, and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork on 18 and 19 June.”
- SupportedTickets for the Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Cork concerts were priced from €136.25 for standing and €156.25 for seated admission, before service charges.RTÉ News: “Tickets for the concerts in Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Cork were priced from €136.25 for standing and €156.25 for seated admission, before additional service charges.”