Dublin hit by Vertigo!

U2 played at Croke Park in Dublin last night and WE WERE THERE!!!

For those of you who don’t get what the big deal is, perhaps I should explain:
Dublin is U2’s hometown.
U2 is the most Irish of bands, possibly the biggest band in the world.
Croke Park is the very heart of all things Irish. Situated in the middle of Dublin it is sacred ground, used exclusively for GAA (Gaelic football & Hurling – no English sports like Rugby and Soccer allowed, thank you very much!)
The last time U2 played Croke Park was 18 years ago, so this was their homecoming… the Irish pride was tangible to the point of almost being suffocating – Dubliners are terribly proprietal (is that a word?) about this foursome.

And WE WERE THERE!!!

It was a perfect, long summer evening – the stadium was bathed in sunlight until it eventually grew dark some time after 10pm, after which it was lit up by stage effects and, at one point, the glowing of 80,000 celphones when Bono gave out his number so that everyone could send a text message in support of his “Make Poverty History” campaign. Yup, that’s right – this Dubliner is going to single-handedly save the world, starting with Africa (in between playing a few songs on their global Vertigo tour, of course).

What more can be said? They started with the tour’s theme song and the stadium was immediately swept in a frenzy of singing and jumping in time to Vertigo. As an opening song I have to say it’s ranks right up there with Robbie Williams’ “Let Me Entertain You” – high praise indeed, as those of you who know me will know.
The strong beat and wailing, trilling guitar that makes U2’s music unique makes for a great live concert, and the sound of 80,000 voices singing such greats as “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” was enough to raise the hair on my arms.
I could have done with a little less of his political musings and appeals but maybe that’s just me – my Irish colleagues didn’t seem to mind.

And all in all the concert was all I could have wished for – great music, a great band, and a chance to sing at the top of my lungs in a crowd without anyone actually hearing me!


Fans poured into the stadium from about 8:30pm


View from our seats


U2 appeared on stage with very little fuss... but the crowd went beserk!


As daylight faded, the stage effects kicked in & the stadium rocked!


See the South African flag? Bono cares about us!


Moody green lights briefly illuminate the crowd