a day ago
Excitement at fever pitch ahead of Oasis Croke Park gigs
The hallowed ground of Croke Park will turn into a mass of heaving bodies clad in Adidas tracksuits and bucket hats as thousands of people descend on GAA Headquarters for the first of two Oasis gigs in Dublin this weekend.
Packed buses and trains are making their way to Dublin from the four corners of Ireland as excitement builds to fever pitch, in what must surely be, the most anticipated gig of the decade.
Concert-goers, some of whom have had their tickets for over a year, have been counting down the days until this weekend, planning time off work and saving hard to afford to buy some merchandise to remember this momentous occasion. Oasis fans Sean McAllister and Paddy Stewart Shanon arrive at Heuston Station for tonight's concert. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/©
This is the Gallagher brothers' reunion gig after a drought of 16 years since they last performed. It seems after intervention from their Irish mum Peggy, the lads have been able to put their differences aside and bring their show back on the road.
Former members of the group have also made a return for the reunion gigs with Andy Bell on bass, Gem Archer and Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs on guitars, and renowned drummer Joey Waronker bringing up the rear.
The Manchester lads last played Ireland in 2009, when they headlined at Slane Castle, in Co Meath, performing there to over 80,000 fans, so this reunion gig has a lot riding on it for original fans of the band, and the new generation of bucket hat wearing music lovers. Oasis fans Mamush Grispen and Robbe Hendrick from Belgium in Temple Bar for tonight's concert. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/©
If you are one of the lucky ones with your mitts on one of the golden tickets to either Saturday or Sunday's shows, then you need to know a few things in advance of arriving at Croker, in order to have the best experience possible.
Gardaí are advising fans to follow their Oasis Concert Croke Park Traffic Managment Plan, and to take heed of signage in and around Croke Park, as roads will be closed all around the venue, and Gardaí and stewards will be in attendance, in order to keep everything running as smoothly as possible for concert goers and residents of the Croke Park area.
The doors to the stadium will open at 5pm and the show gets underway at 6pm with support acts Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) and Cast, the Liverpool band led by John Power. Both artists are set to perform at both gigs this weekend. Oasis fans Oonagh Linnane with Andy Nugent and Catherine Doyle at Stephens Green before tonight's concert. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/©
Following the lads' magnificent return to the stage in Wales earlier this summer, they then went on to play a homecoming gig in Manchester to stellar reviews – and then on to five nights at Wembley Stadium, followed by three at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
But the two Dublin gigs are sure to carry extra importance for Oasis due to their Irish roots, with both parents, Peggy and Thomas, hailing from the Emerald Isle.
