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Family Affair As Gallaghers Hit Slane















When the band last played Slane, as a support to headliners REM in 1995, they brought an entourage of Irish relatives.

The Manchester-born brothers have Irish parents. Their estranged father Tommy is from Duleek, Co Meath, their mother Peggy (née Sweeney) is from Charlestown, Co Mayo.

Slane Castle owner Henry Mountcharles said in 1995 the Gallaghers had 80 Irish relatives at the concert.

“The last time they (Oasis) played Slane there was still a nightclub operating in the castle. I never seen so many Gallaghers in the one room. We were lucky to get them out of the place. There are more Gallaghers now,” he said.

When the concert was announced in October, Noel Gallagher said his mother would definitely be attending. “She’ll be like the Queen of Sheeba,” he predicted.

In his blog on the official Oasis website, Noel Gallagher name-checked a few uniquely Irish treats which he has often mentioned in the past were part of his summers spent in Ireland.

“Off to Dublin today where, for one night only, we will welcome The Prodigy to the tour. Slane Castle tomorrow. Silvermints, Tayto crisps and brunches! YUMMY,” he wrote.

All 80,000 tickets for the concert have been sold after new ones which went on sale this week eventually sold-out.

It is a significant achievement for a band whose musical and popular heyday was back in the mid-1990s when they were the forefront of Brit Pop with their debut album Definitely Maybe and its multi-million follow-up What’s the Story (Morning Glory) .

The band will go on stage at 8.30pm. The support acts will be The Prodigy, Glasvegas, Kasabian and The Blizzards.

A back up generator will be provided to avoid the debacle which happened at Heaton Park in their native Manchester when the PA system cut out several times and Noel Gallagher offered to give the 70,000 crowd their money back.

Around 20,000 fans have taken him up on the offer. “No, you're not getting your money back!! So you were genuinely disappointed? I don't recall seeing a 20,000 gap in the crowd,” Gallagher retorted.

The forecast for tomorrow's concert is good with highs of between 17C and 18C and with little breeze and a strong sun, it may be a day for sunscreen.

“There might be a slight risk of a shower in the morning, but it will clear up by midday. It will be nice enough but not as warm as it is going to be next week,” said Met Éireann forecaster Dr Aidan Nulty.

Source: www.irishtimes.com

Tickets are still available for a number shows on Oasis' largest-ever UK Stadium tour, click here for availability of tickets.

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