Town under siege as U2 prepare for gig
A historic town was under siege today and at the heart of an unprecedented security operation ahead of rock band U2’s first home soil gig for four years.
Bono and his colleagues are set to perform in the open air in the grounds of Slane Castle, in Slane, Co Meath, for the first of two shows on consecutive Saturdays.
The 80,000 tickets for each concert were sold out minutes after going on sale earlier this year.
Slane, 30 miles from Dublin and on the banks of the River Boyne, was closed to all but residents’ vehicles from 8pm last night and will only reopen to traffic at 3am tomorrow.
Weeks ago the garda warned that only ticket-holders would get anywhere close to Slane for each of the two shows, and said special units would be in place to target ticket touts.
Chief Superintendent Michael Finnegan added: ‘‘From an operational point of view, we cannot afford to let anybody through with a fake ticket as we cannot allow numbers inside the cordoned area to be in excess of what is legislated and licensed for.’’
The second show was given the go-ahead only after tremendous pressure from U2 fans throughout Ireland and worldwide - and with the help of a planning law change specially authorised by the Government.
Today the owner of Slane Castle, Lord Henry Mount Charles, made it clear that ideally he would have preferred just one gig.
He said: ‘‘But this time my office was bombarded with calls and I very quickly realised there would be thousands and thousands of unsatisfied fans, so we agreed there had to be a second show.
‘‘At the time the legislation was not in place, but the Government intervened and it all became possible.’’
Lord Henry reported: ‘‘Preparations are going really well and things are calm, collected and focused. But I am very excited. The security operation has to be very tight.’’
The two concerts are certain to be tinged with sadness, though, for U2 frontman Bono.
Yesterday, the rock star - whose real name is Paul Hewson - buried his father, Bob, who died earlier this week from cancer, aged 75.
An emotionally charged mass in Howth, Co Dublin, was marked by singing by Bono and fellow U2 member The Edge.
