MUSIC: Review of U2 at Croke Park

U2 put on a brilliant show


Mike Finnerty

BRILLIANT. That’s the only world that sums it up really. Brilliant. Two hours of unadulterated, non-stop, adrenalin-pumping brilliance. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of U2. Live in concert. And even better than the real thing (if that makes sense!).
In my 32 years on the planet, I had never seen U2 play live. Cue a quick hop to Castlebar earlier this year and 90 minutes spent queueing on the High Street to secure the ‘golden tickets’.
There was one for me and one for Mrs Finnerty, handed over on that particular Friday morning by the legendary Mick Byrne (aka ‘Auld Stock’) who assured me that ‘they were mighty seats’. How right he was.
We took the advice of many worldly-wise Mayo GAA supporters and took the train from Leixlip in to Drumcondra. Twenty-five minutes later we were strolling down to the Hogan Stand, basking in the glorious Friday evening sunshine, and wondering why anybody would ever drive to Croke Park. Our advice? Take the train. Every time.
Once inside, we took a quick look at ‘The Claw’ (which is probably the most unusual thing to park in front of Hill 16 since Willie Joe arrived in with his bandaged head back in 1989) and picked up some official U2 merchandise.
One t-shirt? €25. One official tour programme? €20. One happy wife? Priceless!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it was 8.55pm when the crowd at the front of the stage spotted something stirring. Out of the body of The Claw came Larry Mullen Jnr, followed close behind by Adam Clayton, The Edge and Bono. We were ready for off.
For the next two hours, the only world that existed, as far as we were concerned, was inside the four walls of the stadium. By the soaund of things, the 82,500 people all around us seemed to agree. Everybody, from those in the corporate boxes to the die-hards on the pitch, were spellbound by the band, the music, the stage and the special effects. The whole shooting gallery.
There was no shortage of unforgettable moments, and time seemed to stand still during songs like Magnificent, Beautiful Day, City of Blinding Lights, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Pride, and Where the Streets Have No Name.
Those of us in couples were also catered for with the likes of Walk On - You’ll Never Walk Alone, One and With or Without You. Certainly, there were times when it was hard not to feel like a love-struck teenager again between the special effects, the fading light, and Bono’s ability to make one of the biggest stadiums in Europe seem like Clonbur disco circa 1993!
Unfortunately, before we knew it, the clock had struck 11pm and the show was over. We all clapped and roared our appreciation, smiles creasing faces as far as the eye could see. As we spilled out on to the streets around Croke Park, people chatted among themselves and shouted into mobile phones. ‘Brilliant’ they all said. It was the only word for it