Some news simply transcends county borders.

After one of the messiest concert fiascos in history (and not just Irish history but, like, global history) Garth Brooks will finally be playing in Ireland. The country music legend announced this morning that he would finally be returning to Ireland for the first time since 1997.

In case you’ve forgotten, Brooks was at the heart of a national scandal in 2014 when he announced five gigs in Croke Park – selling out all five – before permission for all but two of the gigs was rescinded, at which point Brooks refused to do any gigs at all.

It had been suggested at one point by Taoiseach Micheál Martin that Brooks might honour the Rebel County with his presence but it seems as though such pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Brooker has only eyes for Croker.

While a gig or two in Cork would seem like a sensible solution to the whole ‘five nights in Croke Park’ problem, it seems like once again the goal is for the ‘Friends In Low Places’ singer to play five nights in the capital. While this morning’s announcement confirmed only two gigs, Dublin City Council have already granted permission for dates on the 9th, 10th and 11th — as well as two additional September dates. So you know what comes next.

For now, the gigs are scheduled to take place next autumn on the 9th and 10th of September. Aiken Promotions have confirmed that tickets will go on sale next Thursday at 10am.