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U2 @ Croke Park – useful info

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U2 in Barcelona - from u2.com
U2 360 in Barcelona - from u2.com

Getting there

If you’ve never been to Croke Park, it’s in Drumcondra which is north Dublin city centre almost halfway between the city centre and the airport. It’s serviced well by buses & trains & only a short hop from town.

Bus
The following buses pass through Drumcondra. Jump out at the stop as close to the railway bridge corssing the road as possible. Bus routes from the city centre to Drumcondra Rd: 3, 11/a/b/c, 13/a, 16/a, 33/b, 41/a/b/c, 40/a/b/c/d. Others that get you nearby are on this map.

Train
Drumcondra train station is on the Maynooth/Longford/Sligo line. Check www.irishrail.ie for timetables.

Walk
It’s only 15mins from O’Connell St, here’s the route I’d suggest – http://short.ie/walktocroker

Preparation

Time
Gates open at 6pm, first band is due on at 6.30 with U2 due on around 9pm. I’d hazard a guess it’ll be all done and dusted by 11/11.30 at the latest. If you want a decent standing spot, get there early. If you’re seated well then allow yourself about 30mins from arriving in Drumcondra to getting into your seat in the stadium.

What to wear/bring with you
It will more than likely rain at some point so bring layers & waterproofs, even if you’re seated – Croker is quite open & quite windy! Leave the umbrellas at home as they won’t be allowed in. I’d imagine bag searches will happen so try keep luggage to a minimum.

Have an awesome time. See you round there on the Friday :)

Thoughts

U2 360 countdown: post #7 – goosebumps

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Going for one of the ‘classics’ today. ‘Where the Streets Have No Name‘, from the epic & much-loved Joshua Tree album, is one of their huge iconic anthems & according to Wikipedia it has been played at almost every U2 concert since 1987. Of course the video for the song is a story of its own. They famously stopped traffic when they played live on top of the Republic Liquor Store in LA before getting ‘shut down’ by police.

I love the intro to this song – from the organ strains to Edge’s signature sound arpeggios building up to those first lines “I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside…” – gorgeous. While walking home during the week I got goosebumps while listening to it. It’s one of the lasting memories I have from the last time I saw them in Croker – the buzz around Croke Park as that riff rang out and the crowd just roaring out that first line. Just fantastic.

Where The Streets Have No Name – live at Slane Castle.

Will I sleep tonight? Probably not. Croker here I come :)

Thoughts

U2 360 countdown: post #6 – POP Music!

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U2 - POP
U2 - POP

While Achtung Baby remains my favourite U2 album, 1997′s Pop comes in at a very close second. I’ve heard U2 describe it as something like ‘their greatest unfinished piece of work’ and I agree entirely.

I think some of their best work is on that album from lyrics to riffs & beats to the gorgeous artwork.

Mofo – Live in Mexico

The accompanying PopMart tour was one of the most elaborate and iconic stadium shows to tour the world featuring a huge LED screen, a 100ft high golden arch and a huge mirrorball lemon. Similar to the previous Zoo TV tour, the lavish set & imagery were all parth of a theme designed to poke fun at consumerism, materialism & popular culture.

Gone – Live in Mexico

U2 brought the PopMart tour to Sarajevo becoming the first major band to play there after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina following a series of controversial satellite links to aid workers there during their Zoo TV tour.

Do You Feel Loved – Live in Las Vegas

The show was recorded in Mexico City in 1997 and was re-relased on DVD in 2007. If just for the spectacle alone, it’s worth a watch. I can still remember the first time I saw the video for Discotheque on TV & just loving the sound they were creating. I was in my last year of primary school at the time & remember wishing I had an older brother or sister to take me along on the bus trip to Dublin for the concert. I had to settle for watching the PopMart video once it was released & I watched it so often that it eventually wore out! Here’s hoping for one or two Pop classics this weekend in Croke Park :)

Discotheque – official video

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U2 360 countdown: post #5

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360 stage at Croke Park, taken by @gavreilly
360 stage at Croke Park, taken by @gavreilly

First off, props to Gav for TwitPic-ing progress on the 360 stage construction that’s going on up at Croker – looking epic!

Today I’m picking out another song from Achtung Baby today, which is my favourite U2 album by a mile. When rooting around on YouTube for a video, I learned that the ‘single version’ was quite different and not nearly as raw & punchy as the original. According to U2.com, the single released was the ‘Temple Bar Edit‘. Recorded after a night in Dorans or The Mezz eh lads?

So forgive the visuals and enjoy the sounds, a compromise worthwhile I think you’ll agree :)

Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (album cut)

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U2 360 countdown: post #4 & Happy Birthday Jen!

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My U2 song of choice for today was pre-determined by the fact that it’s my friend Jenni‘s birthday & aside from it being one of her favourite U2 songs, it has a special happy memory attached for both of us.

One Saturday night while walking towards the taxi rank on O’Connell St, we were singing our way through the U2 catalogue (as you do) and when we tried to start ‘Mysterious Ways’ we got in a pickle over what the first line was. So we decided to ask the highly approachable pair of young Gardai outside the GPO to see if they could help. It went something like this…

Jen: “I’m sorry but we were wondering if you could help us? We’re trying to remember the first line of a U2 song.”

Gardai: “Oh right.”

Jen: “Yeah, ‘Mysterious Ways’ – we can’t remember the first line.”

Gardai: “Oh geez that’s a tough one now. Tell you what if you hang on there for a minute Johnny will be able to answer that one, he’s mad into U2. He’s just gone to the shop for sweets & will be back over in a minute.”

And sure enough, Johnny did arrive back from the shop & did supply us with the line “Johnny, take a walk with your sister the moon”. So we thanked him & continued on our way singing & dancing to the taxi rank & thinking “only in Ireland”.

So from the fabulous Achtung Baby, here’s Mysterious Ways. Happy Birthday Jen & fair play Johnny :)