(CNN) -- Garth Brooks is still holding out hope he can do shows in Ireland despite the Dublin city council saying no to two of them. 

Brooks told the Irish promoter after the city's approval of just three shows he would wait "to the last second" before sending his crew and gear back the the United States. 

"I cannot begin to tell you how badly my heart is breaking right now," the singer wrote in a note to Aiken Promotions on Tuesday. Brooks' rep on Wednesday provided CNN a copy of the note. 

The Dublin shows had been planned for Croke Park Stadium, a football arena that can hold more than 90,000 fans, on five consecutive nights during the last week of July. The council approved Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows, but rejected licenses for Monday and Tuesday night concerts. 

The promoter, saying Brooks insisted on five shows or none at all, announced Tuesday that all concerts of "The Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event" were canceled and the 400,000 tickets sold would be refunded. 

A measure of the demand to see Brooks perform live is impressive, considering the 400,000 tickets sold represent nearly one of every 10 people in the Republic of Ireland's 4.5 million population. 

"I hope you understand that to play for 400,000 people would be a dream, but to tell 160,000 of those people that they are not welcome would be a nightmare," Brooks wrote. "To do what the city manager suggests (play three shows and not all five) means I agree that is how people should be treated and I just can't agree with that." 
who will wait for the last moment ?
and the first mane ?
why is he holding out hope ?
despite what council ?
how many did they turn down ?
how many tickets were sold ?
was it all given back ?
where did the send the crew back to ?
what else went back ?
who did he write a note to ?
on what day ?
when did cnn get it ?
how many shows were spproved ?
what days ?
what days were no approved ?
day or night ?
how many could the arena hold ?
on hoe many night straight ?
when ?
of what month ?
Brooks
Brooks
Garth
Garth
he can do shows in Ireland
he can do shows in Ireland 
Dublin city
Dublin city
two
two
400,000
400,000
yes
would be refunded. 
United States
United States
gear
gear
Aiken Promotions
Aiken Promotions
Tuesday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Three
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Monday and Tuesday
Monday and Tuesday 
night
night
90,000
90,000
five consecutive
five consecutive
during the last week
during the last week 
July
July