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Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
What to expect if you're going to Oasis Sunday after one of the best gigs ever
I was lucky enough to get tickets for the first sold-out Oasis spectacular at Croke Park and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. The show marked Noel and Liam Gallagher's first live performance together in more than 16 years, following their bitter break up in 2009. I thought the Croke Park gig was 'everything Irish fans could have wished for, with a little bit extra sprinkled on top'. You can read my review here. If you are heading along today, here are some pointers that should help you get even more out of what could well be one of the best nights out of your life. Get to the city centre early and soak up the atmosphere The excitement on the streets of Dublin on Saturday was palpable. The good weather and the feverish anticipation about the concert seemed to have everyone in good form. Oasis Fans Mike and Julie from Manchester in Temple Bar ahead of the Croke Park show on Sunday (Image: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos) Bars in the city centre were packed out from early afternoon. Houses were flying Oasis flags, Dublin City council signs were in the band's branding and shops and hotels all seemed to be blasting out Oasis' greatest hits. The sense of '90s nostalgia was in the air and I don't recall ever going to a Croke Park concert with such pre-show excitement. And the Oasis merch shop must have done a brisk trade as everyone seemed to be kitted out in the band's t-shirts. Bucket hats and Adidas sportswear were the uniform of choice for the supporters who gathered in the streets and bars close to the stadium, which did not open until 5pm. Use public transport Public transport was the easiest way to get close to the stadium. Dublin Bus, DART and commuter train services are running additional capacity, with Drumcondra and Connolly stations a short walk from the venue. Road closures and parking restrictions will be in place around Croke Park. Oasis fans at Croke Park Check out the list of items banned from the stadium Don't bring any large bags or backpacks to the stadium as they are not allowed and there is nowhere to store personal items until after the show. Reflective jackets, Chinese lanterns and iPads are on the list of what can't be brought into Croke Park, which is long and as strict as you expect for large public gatherings in 2025. Air horns, flagpoles, selfie sticks, prams, cameras with detachable lenses and fold-up chairs are all stopped. Check out the full list of banned items here. Expect lengthy queues at Croke Park bars and food stalls It's best to enjoy your few beers and have some food before you get to the stadium as the queues inside Croke Park were lengthy until Oasis took to the stage. In the Hogan Stand yesterday, it took more than 30 minutes to get a drink from the bar. However, after Oasis went onstage, the queues disappeared so if you do get thirsty you will have options. The stage times advertised are real Having been to hundreds of shows as a reviewer over the past 22 years, I generally never expect bands to come on stage when the published set times say they will. Liam and Noel arrived on stage bang on time (Image: Philip Fitzpatrick) However, this Oasis tour is an exception. Cast were onstage at exactly 6pm on Saturday and Richard Ashcroft walked out at 7pm. Liam and Noel entered the stage at bang on 8.15 as advertised. So get in early and get your seats (or your space on the pitch if you are standing). Dress sensibly You can expect a few pints of beer and other drinks to be spilled, so it's probably wise not to wear your fanciest clothes. You'll need comfortable walking shoes for after the concert as the traffic management plan means you'll be on your feet for a while before you reach an area where you can hail a taxi or get a bus. Wear earplugs Noise levels were regularly between 100dB and 110dB throughout the first concert. It wasn't always the music, as the screams from the excited crowd were also deafening. It is no harm to wear protective earplugs and you will still enjoy the music. Headphone brand Sennheiser's parent company Phonak manufactures Serenity Choice Music earplugs specifically for gigs and they will reduce noise levels by between 10dB and 17dB. Enjoy the set At the first Croke Park concert, Liam, Noel, Bonehead, Gem, Andy and Joey played the same two-hour setlist that they have performed on every night of the Oasis Live 25 tour so far. They opened with Hello before playing Acquiesce, Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Bring It On Down, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Fade Away, Supersonic and Roll With It. Liam then left the stage and Noel took over vocal duties for Talk Tonight, Half the World Away and Little By Little before Liam rejoined the action for D'You Know What I Mean, Stand By Me, Cast No Shadow, Slide Away, Whatever, Live Forever and Rock and Roll Star. The encore started with Noel singing The Masterplan and Don't Look Back in Anger before Liam took over on the microphone for Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week


Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish tourists warning as 45C temps in Spain hotspots prompt RED weather alerts
Irish tourists have been warned about extreme temperatures in some of Spain's tourist hotspots after a series of red weather alerts were issued on Sunday. The official Spanish meteorological service, AEMET, has issued red alerts to 19 areas across the country, including areas such as Andalusia, Catalonia and Valencia, with popular locations such as Alicante, Cadiz, Girona and Seville also affected. Maximum temperatures in areas affected by the red alerts are expected to reach between 40 and 45C on Sunday between the hours of 11am and 9pm. Elsewhere in Spain, areas such as Madrid and the Balearic Islands have been issued with orange alerts, with temperatures in parts of Ibiza and Majorca set to reach 42C. The affected 19 areas issued with red alerts have been classified as having 'extreme risk', which applies to 'unusual weather events of exceptional intensity and with a very high level of risk to the population'. Red weather alerts have been issued to multiple areas in Spain (Image: AEMET) In these circumstances, people in affected areas are urged to 'take preventative measures and act', to follow the instructions of local authorities, avoid unnecessary travel and constantly check weather updates. The alerts come after a rare 'black flag' warning was issued to tourists visiting La Gracios in the Canary Islands last week. La Graciosa, a volcanic island, sits approximately 1.2 miles north of Lanzarote across the Strait of El Río. Similar to other Canary Islands, it was created by the Canary hotspot - a plume of exceptionally hot magma within the Earth's mantle. The Spanish territory has been characterised as one of Europe's final destinations without tarmacked roads and amongst the least discovered and most tranquil of the Canary Islands. The island forms a volcanic massif sculpted by molten ash and lava, contributing to its striking landscape. Playa de Caleta de Sebo, the "town beach" of La Graciosa's capital, alongside Playa de la Francesa, situated slightly further down the coastline, featured on the yearly Black Flag catalogue released by environmental organisation Ecologistas en Acción (Ecologists in Action). Ecologistas en Acción's yearly assessment, which has been exposing environmental mismanagement across Spain since 2005, catalogues the beaches awarded a black flag this year. According to Ecologists in Action, the beach at Caleta de Sebo remains in a "poor state of conservation", with debris from vessels, beachgoers and eateries adding to contamination. At Playa de la Francesa, locals highlight concerns about catamaran excursions descending upon the location "holding parties, meals, games, and contests with loud music and leaving waste behind on the sand and in the water". Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week


RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Here are some of Heritage Week's 2,347 events you should check out
Analysis: Heritage Week must-sees include Claddagh rings, medieval armoury, urban walking tours, soda bread and scything championships Here we go again! It's National Heritage Week, that glorious week of the year eagerly anticipated by enthusiasts of Irish history and heritage like myself. Organised by the Heritage Council, the week celebrates all things heritage with a variety of events around the island of Ireland that brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage. It's a testament to the level of interest that the week has grown greatly since since the Heritage Council assumed responsibility for it in 2005. The week from August 16th to 24th offers everyone a chance to engage with heritage. Heritage fosters community identity, is central to our tourism industry and plays an important role in wellbeing. Even those who have not had an opportunity to formally study history can find their imaginations ignited by heritage. Events are in plain English, are very accessible and welcome for all. The fact that National Heritage Week takes place in the final peak boredom weeks of the school summer holidays, with many child-friendly free events, allows parents to introduce their children to heritage in an affordable way (most of the events are free). From RTÉ Archives, Samantha Libreri reports for RTÉ News on people take part in 'Digging History' at Swords Castle during Heritage Week 2015 Much of National Heritage Week is dependent to a large extent on the work and enthusiasm of volunteers and local heritage groups. These people are passionate about our heritage and willing to offer their own invaluable time and expertise for free. They should be applauded for their efforts. As always my chief complaint is that it is just not long enough: a fortnight, or even a month, would be more appropriate to celebrate the heritage of a country steeped in such vast history and tradition. At the time of writing, there are an eye-watering 2,347 listings on the website. These are my personal picks of events and I've tried to pick a range as widely dispersed around the country as possible. You can make your own list by using the What's On tab on the Heritage Week website to filter events by county and 'hearting' an event you like to keep your choices together. For heritage lovers, it's a bit like getting the highlighting pen out for the Christmas RTE Guide! As I said, the majority of the events are free, but some are not and it is worth checking this beforehand. Some may involve pre booking to attend so do check the details of each via the website. Happy Heritage Week! Holy wells in Roscommon, Galway, Cork and Carlow With around 3,000 holy wells dotted around Ireland one would expect many events listed for heritage week on that topic, and there are. A documentary screening of Echoes of Faith: The Holy Wells of West Cork in Bantry highlights the importance of west Cork's holy wells, while in Carlow a lecture with Dr. Bruce Misstear will explore the hydrology of holy wells, There are exhibitions of holy wells in Galway and Roscommon. 18th century architecture in Limerick and Dublin If you have not yet been to the Casino in Marino in person, then why not? It is an absolute delight to experience this beautiful building in real life and it is an icon of Irish neoclassical architectural design. For Heritage Week, a special tour offers an in-depth exploration of how the Classical civilisations of Greece and Rome influenced the design of the Casino. If that has whetted your appetite for all things neoclassical, a tour of the interior of Rathfarnham Castle shows how Sir William Chambers and James 'Athenian' Stuart transformed the design of the building to make it one of the most elegant houses in the country. Meanwhile, the Limerick chapter of the Irish Georgian Society are going subterranean and organising a walking tour of the vaults and cellars of Limerick city. From RTÉ Radio 1's Ray D'Arcy Show, National Museum curator and RTÉ Brainstorm contributor Siobhán Doyle discusses the Harry Clarke exhibition Harry Clarke in Mayo, Cork and Dublin As an art historian, I have never met a person who did not love the ethereal work of the Irish stained glass artist Harry Clarke. For enthusiasts of stained glass and Clarke's work, there are a number of events listed for National Heritage Week. In Skibbereen, there will be a documentary screening celebrating Clarke's work in west Cork, while there will be a stained glass making demo, and a Harry Clarke talk and book launch in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. For those in The Pale who do not wish to venture west, there is a tour of the National Museum of Ireland (Collins Barracks) which will take in the new Harry Clarke exhibition. Urban centres and working class lives in Belfast and Dublin It is refreshing to see urban working class past lives prominent during National Heritage Week, and two events in Dublin highlight the role of the Northside of the city in shaping modern Ireland. One walking tour offers an immersive journey through the history of the city's tenement buildings, while another shows how changing political, economic and or social changes left their mark on Dublin's Northside over the centuries. A talk by ANU co-founder Louise Lowe will discuss that theatre company's creative approach to partnering with Dublin Port to create a series of historically grounded performances exploring themes of labour, conflict, memory, and identity. Serving as a reminder of our shared all-island heritage, a walking tour of Belfast's hidden history explores how that city developed over the last eight centuries. From RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Heritage Director at Dublin Port Company Lar Joyce on how the rich 300 year history of Dublin Port has been mapped for the first time as part of a new conservation study Traditional Irish food in Tipperary, Roscommon, Carlow and Dublin Two events in Tipperary highlight traditional Irish food: a talk by Terry Cunningham explores Irish food history including ancient farming and feasting traditions, while Peter Ward talks of Irish cuisine with an honourable mention given to Irish soda bread. The annual Farming Rathcroghan conference's theme this year is 'Food for Thought' and looks at many aspects of food in Ireland from an historical, archaeological, folklore, heritage, feast and famine perspective with a range of expert speakers. If you have junior foodies, you might consider bringing them along to a traditional butter and jam making event in Carlow. Meanwhile in Dublin, you can attend a food history themed talk alongside a new food market in the grounds of Swords Castle or an event at the National Library that looks at old culinary recipes featuring some less popular ingredients, not as commonly used today . Old Irish harvest traditions in Monaghan, Kilkenny and Sligo As we are well into August - the beginning of the harvest in Irish tradition - some events explore techniques, tools and customs of this time once so important to rural life. In Kilkenny an event looks at the sustainable use and repair of scythes, once ubiquitous to the harvest and now no longer in common use. This takes place alongside the national scything championships - if you need an explanation, there is an introduction to scything in Monaghan. There are also seasonal 'harvest knots' workshops in Sligo and Ballymote libraries, showcasing how to make these charming lapel decorations, once associated with romance during harvest time in Ireland. Ceramics in Clare, Mayo and Laois There are not huge differences between ancient and contemporary pottery in terms of materials and techniques and some workshops during heritage week aim to show this. One in Clare shows how to build and decorate your own clay pot, another workshop in Mayo explores the art of making traditional Irish-inspired vessels and a similar workshop in Laois is aimed at getting children involved. Warriors and weapons in Offaly, Meath and Cork With the 30th anniversary of Braveheart in the news recently, what better excuse for fans to reacquaint themselves with Trim Castle? This is where some of the film was shot and where there is a medieval armoury display for Heritage Week. On a similar theme, the romantic ruins of Clonmacnoise evoke not only our monastic heritage but provide an appropriate setting for a talk on how the site played host to agitation, propaganda battles, burial and commemoration through the ages. To commemorate one of our greatest warriors, the wonderful Michael Collins' House Museum in Clonakilty has free admission to mark the anniversary of his death on August 22nd. Neolithic archaeology in Sligo Sligo is fast becoming acknowledged as the neolithic capital of Ireland with the growing awareness of the important monuments there, thanks to the ongoing UNESCO World Heritage bid for the Passage Tomb Landscape of the county. A tour and talk at Carrowmore OPW neolithic site will explore how many of these passage tombs were constructed, with a focus on their dolmen capstones. Carrowmore is also offering a 'Big Dig' archaeology event for children this year. The Claddagh ring in Galway The team at the wonderful Galway City Museum have followed this year's theme "Exploring our Foundations" by having a special tour, which begins with the origins of the city and then focuses on an important object in their collections. The museum is home to the oldest known Claddagh ring, which was made by Galway goldsmith Richard Joyce around the 18th century. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the museum's collections and find out more about an iconic Irish design synonymous with Galway and known the world over.