80,000 watch Bono kick up a storm
Beautiful day as crowd enjoy a blockbuster on Saturday 25/8/01.
IT was the ultimate Irish band playing the ultimate Irish venue - and neither disappointed.
A capacity crowd at Slane witnessed a performance of maximum power and emotion by U2 on Saturday, with Bono's poignant tribute to his father elevating the event beyond mere rock'n'roll.
Four giant portraits of Bob Hewson illuminated the stage as the band performed One, followed by Walk On in memory of the singer's father whom he had buried the day before.
The star thanked his father "for giving me the voice I'm speaking to you with today" and with one of the opening numbers Kite also dedicated to him, the entire concert was dominated by the loss.
"I want to thank God for taking my old man away from his pain," Bono said, drawing deep to produce a performance of spectacular energy, helped along by 80,000 fans who appeared to know every word of the band's body of work.
It took the group 20 years to get back to Slane, and the last time they had played as support to Thin Lizzy, Bono recalled "we were crap, we were really crap".
Now they were back with a world tour on course to be the highest earning in the history of rock music.
Despite a shaky start to the day, even the weather decided to favour the event. The sun beat down from midday as the multitudes arrived by bus and car.
Helicopters buzzed overhead throughout the day, bringing their cargo of bigname celebrities to enjoy VIP treatment at Slane Castle hosted by Lord Henry Mountcharles.
Looking very much like the man from Del Monte in an off-white suit, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and his partner Celia Larkin schmoozed with former Northern Secretary Mo Mowlam, while racing car driver Eddie Irvine arrived with his usual bevy of beauties.
Singers Samantha Mumba, Brian Kennedy, Paul Brady, Neil Hannon from Divine Comedy, Natalie Imbruglio, Juliet Turner, and Bryan from Westlife all attended as did actors Charlize Theron, John Hurt, Alicia Silverstone and Woody Harrelson. Phil Lynott's mother Philomena was there to hear U2 pay tribute to her son with a rendition of Dancing in the Moonlight.
Adi Roche, Paddy Moloney, Jim Sheridan, the Cranberries, and Mick Byrne were also there.
The concert got off to an almost muted beginning as the early finishing time stipulated by planning requirements meant U2 made their debut in unfamiliar daylight. However as darkness fell, they came into their own and the crowd came with them.
The show was scaled back from the excesses of the Pop Mart tour, but the four large screens tracking each of the band members combined with a kaleidoscopic light show to produce a dazzling spectacle.
The crowd was officially numbered at 80,000, but in fact the venue seemed to be packed close to its 100,000 capacity, with standing room only.
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Saturday 1/9/01
U2 PLAYING to 80,000 at Slane and we'd all but officially qualified for the World Cup. What a day and what an atmosphere.
It was Party Central on the banks of the Boyne stretching up the hill to Lord Henry Mount Charles' Castle. The screening of the second half of the match and Jason McAteer's all important goal between support acts Nelly Furtado and Ash was inspired, and even the threatened rain didn't fall at all on our parade.
The Irish were having some day and the American techno wizard Moby was only too happy to share in our unexpected euphoria, even if the marching bands passing his hotel had kept him awake. "Not one to indulge in national jingoism but One-Nil, huh? Congratulations."
The vibe was electric by the time Thin Lizzy's the Boys are Back in Town was pumping through the sound system. Bono and the lads were on their way.
Larry'd spent the afternoon at Lansdowne Road and got a chopper to the gig.
Some change to 20 years ago, when they supported Thin Lizzy at the first show in the natural amphitheatre.
Elevation kicked the show off, but it wasn't long before Bono draped himself in a tricolour and thanked the Irish football team, "our best support act".
Understandably nostalgia took root, the band from the Northside sang their first single Out of Control and Bono repeated his words from 1981 saying they were looking for a record deal, they wouldn't live in London, they were going to stay in Dublin but they still needed a lend of £500.
He went on to thank their fans for queueing in the rain and buying the tickets with their hard earned cash.
"We've had a great life, we've had an amazing year so far and we're going to take it. This is our love," and launched into Pride (in the Name of Love).
It was a show with everything - touching moments, political statements and great rock music.
At the end of Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono named all 29 people who were killed in the Omagh bombing.
Bono also dedicated All I want is You "to my beautiful wife, Ali". Songs of the evening included oldies like New Year's Day, Bullet the Blue Sky, With or Without You, and Desire along with newer material from All That You Can't leave Behind like Beautiful Day, Stuck In a Moment, Kite and Walk On.
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