The real magic of Arthur's Day is being able to witness a powerhouse performance from one of the world's biggest DJs in the intimate surroundings of a small bar like Mickey Martin's, housed as it is on a warren-like lane off Limerick's main shopping thoroughfare. At precisely 6.45pm, a nonchalant Calvin Harris walks into the bar – which is famed for its high profile DJ sets, despite its size – and says to the lucky 40-odd ticket holders, “I hope you like dance music”. Unsurprisingly, they do.
Bookending his set with his own tunes – 'Bounce' and 'Feel So Close' – Harris plays a crowd-friendly set featuring the Swedish House Mafia's 'Save the World' and a delightful little mash-up of Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' and Cee-lo's 'Fuck You' in between, later repeating the performance in front of 1,200 screaming fans down town at Limerick's Big Top, the main venue for this first official Arthur's Day bash in the Treaty City.
The Feeling raise a glass at 17.59, lead singer Dan Gillespie Sells imploring the crowd to “wave your Guinness in the air” before a muscular, hit-heavy set including 'Fill My Little World' and 'Love It When You Call' – the real highlight of which is the superb 'Join With Us'.
The most satisfying aspect of the night is seeing the reaction of the crowd when they see the Big Top – in effect an architectural miracle, a massive 1.8 tonne, half-acre canopy drawn over one of the oldest markets in the country. The venue's closed in design makes it perfect for music and the roof is almost blown off the structure by crowd singalong classics from Sharon Shannon – 'Galway Girl' – Royseven's 'We Should Be Lovers', Calvin's 'I'm Not Alone' and Fight Like Apes' 'Jake Summers'.
Final word goes to doom-laden rock merchants Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters who draw one of the biggest cheers of the night when they say “it's great to play Arthur's Day in our home town”. We couldn't agree more.