GARTH BROOKS HAS tonight released a statement to say that all five concerts won’t go ahead.

The statement reads as follows:

I have always been advised to NEVER send a message in ‘the moment.’It is said it is best to take a walk, wait awhile, and think about it. With that said, I just received the news the Irish council cannot change their earlier ruling to not allow the licenses for all five shows.To say I am crushed is an understatement. All I see is my mother’s face and I hear her voice. She always said things happen for a reason and for the right reason.As hard as I try, I cannot see the light on this one. So it is with a broken heart, I announce the ticket refunds for the event will go as posted by TicketMaster.

I want to thank the Irish authorities for going the distance for all of us who wanted to share songs and dance together. I really want to thank all the people around the world that continued to think good thoughts that this would actually happen.

Most of all, to Peter Aiken and those 400,000 people who believed enough to go through what they have been through to get to this point…I love you, always have, always will. I encourage any and all of them that can come see the show, at some point around the world, to bring your Irish flags and waive them proudly at the concerts. I will be looking for you.…garth.

Aiken Promotions have also issued a statement stating that they “regret to announce that despite pursuing all possible solutions, the 5 concert Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event at Croke Park is cancelled. No concerts will take place”.

The ticket return process will begin on Thursday 17 July at 9am through Ticketmaster.

Read: Dublin pub declares itself a ‘Garth Brooks free zone’>

Read: Thanks, Garth? Events licensing system to be re-examined in the autumn>