Two ferry crossings, 26 trucks and one 85-metre screen: Oasis stage arrives in Dublin

Irish Independent

4 days ago

After a 16-year hiatus, Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, are back on stage together and will play two sold-out shows here on August 16 and 17.
Last week, the Oasis stage was dismantled at Wembley Stadium in London and travelled the 570km journey by truck and ferry via Holyhead and Birkenhead, arriving at Dublin Port before continuing on to Croke Park.
It was transported from Wembley via Dublin Port by WS Specialist Logistics.
Separately, lighting, sound and specialist equipment was transported from Scotland via Larne by Fly By Nite – another logistics company.
The band played Edinburgh's Murrayfield stadium last Friday, their last gig ahead of the Dublin dates.
Operations Director at WS Specialist Logistics, Rob Courtney, said they are 'thrilled' to be working on the band's Live 25 tour.
'In total, 26 loads will make their way to Dublin via Holyhead and Birkenhead, delivering a hugely sophisticated setup - the main screen alone spans an incredible 85 metres,' he said.
'For the Croke Park show, we had the added complication of crossing the Irish Sea, so it's a fantastic moment to finally roll into Dublin Port for what feels like the band's second homecoming.'
Stadium concerts such as these are considered a major logistical operation, requiring two full sets of staging being transported across cities to keep the tour running smoothly.
Fly By Nite's Director, Eddie Charlton, said moving equipment for shows like Oasis is 'no mean feat'.
'The Taylor Swift Eras Tour concerts last year were the largest we've ever moved – over 100 trucks carrying lighting, sound, merchandise, costumes, and staging,' he said.
'It was incredibly bespoke and unlike anything else we've transported.'
Around 100 people will be employed to help set up the stage, sound and lighting for the event.
The Live 25 tour will be the band's first gig here since Slane Castle in 2009 and is forecasted to bring a significant boost to Dublin's economy.
Claire Percy, External Affairs at Dublin Port, said it is often not considered how big a role the Port plays in logistical operations such as these.
'About €165bn worth of trade comes through Dublin Port each year, supporting every aspect of the Irish economy, including live entertainment,' she said.