Tens of thousands of Oasis fans are converging on Dublin for the first of two sold-out concerts at Croke Park, marking the Britpop legends’ return to Ireland after a 16-year hiatus.
The 90s superstars will perform to 80,000 people each night at Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures expected to reach 24°C. Health officials have advised concert-goers to wear bucket hats due to high UV levels amid warm, dry sunny conditions forecasted for Dublin.
The Dublin leg of their reunion world tour holds special significance for the once-feuding Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, who have spoken publicly about their Irish heritage through their parents, Peggy and Thomas, who were born in Ireland.
Despite controversy over “dynamic pricing” that left many fans frustrated during last year’s ticket sales, those lucky enough to secure passes are ready to embrace the experience. The concerts represent the band’s first Irish performances since 2009, the same year they dramatically split following a backstage altercation at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris.
Support acts for the Dublin dates include Richard Ashcroft from The Verve and Cash, the band formed by John Power after leaving The La’s. The setlist promises crowd-pleasing anthems including “Cigarettes and Alcohol,” “Wonderwall,” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” with fans also treated to favorites like “Acquiesce,” “Some Might Say,” and “Morning Glory.”
The highly anticipated 41-date reunion tour, announced in August last year, has already taken the band through Cardiff, Manchester, London, and Edinburgh. Following Dublin, the tour will span continents with major performances scheduled across the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.
The Dublin concerts represent a triumphant homecoming of sorts for the Manchester band, reconnecting with their Irish roots before a global audience.