On The Record

  • Is it to late to complain now?

    September 27, 2007 @ 12:28 pm | by Jim Carroll

    The Barbra Streisand Irish concert saga looks like it’s coming to an end. The report has been issued, the apologies have been given and 2,500 Babs freaks are going to get either their money back or a “voucher”.

    The report itself has CCTV footage from the day, extracts from the event management plan and even rainfall charts.

    Interestingly, there’s also a statement from National Consumer Agency big cheese Anne Fitzgerald with the report, including this lovely nugget which suggests that this one, like Babs, may yet run and run.

    We believe that the compensation being offered by MCD represents a fair deal for consumers. However, the NCA would advise patrons that, if they do not wish to accept the compensation now on offer from MCD, they are entitled to refuse it and to take action against the company in the Small Claims Court. Similarly, patrons who are not being offered any compensation may have grounds for action in the Small Claims Court

    But, are you happy now? Bet those who didn’t complain are fuming.

    • 7 Comments »

    1.
    September 27, 2007
    2:53 pm

    Jim, as Sean O’Rourke pointed out in a surprisingly tetchy interview with Ann Fitzgerald on the News at One, getting one’s money back isn’t compensation, it’s a refund…

    Comment by Ivor
    2.
    September 27, 2007
    3:01 pm

    Do the residents in the area who overheard the performance get a compensation deal too?

    Comment by Peter
    3.
    September 27, 2007
    3:03 pm

    ivor - i’m going to check the interview online. I’m a huge fan of Sean O’Rourke, especially when he’s tetchy

    The report is interesting chiefly because it’s the first time a concert has got this kind of post-event analysis and you have to wonder if it realy warranted this kind of tribunal-like investigation. I mean, no-one died, just some Barbra Streisand fans got stuck in the mud.

    I’d love to see the transcripts of the interviews with those who worked the event, just to see what they had to say and what the level of questioning was like.

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    4.
    September 27, 2007
    3:56 pm

    I think it’s great that it got a tribunal-like investigation. Indeed no one died, but then again AFAIK no one died because of Bertie’s convoluted bank lodgements… This has obviously been a huge pain in the neck (and on the bottom line) for MCD. Call me naive, but I presume they’ll up their ante to make sure this sort of hassle and expense doesn’t come their way again. Which means for better event organisation (and maybe heftier ticket prices as well but that’s a debate for another day).

    One curious thing though is that the domain name of the website on which the report is published (castletownconcertreport.com) was registered by a Michael Cullinan who - it turns out - also manages local indie band ‘The Wire’. What on earth is the connection? A closet Babs fan with an online tribunal fetish?

    Domain registration info is here:
    http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/whois.ch?ip=castletownconcertreport.com
    And Mr. Cullinan appears as the Wire’s main man on their MySpace page here:
    http://www.myspace.com/listentothewire

    Comment by eoghan
    5.
    September 27, 2007
    5:02 pm

    There’s no wondering about it Jim, the middle aged middle class are the one’s with all the sway!

    Comment by Joe
    6.
    September 27, 2007
    8:49 pm

    eoghan - i suppose i’m putting things in perspective a little in my own head but, yes, in terms of the irish music industry, it is quite an eye-opener. I do wish there was more detail there but, as MCD are a private company, that isn’t going to happen

    It’s an officlal site (the link came from mcd.ie) so mr cullinan must have been either in with his registration early doors or did it on behalf of MCD or the hosting company. Sure, we’ll know if and when The Wire (they had better be good with a name nicked from the best TV show around) start getting all those juicy support slots which Humanzi used to get ;-)

    joe - exactly. maybe we’ll get CSI Oxegen for 2008

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    7.
    September 28, 2007
    12:48 am

    can’t wait to read the catchphrase-riddled turd of a david mcwilliams article about this next week.

    Comment by gardenhead

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