For his first Irish date in years – there’s a follow-up tour scheduled for February – Bob Geldof eased himself back into the frame, appearing far from the maddening crowd, in the heart of the Kingdom of Kerry.

Taking to the stage at this highly impressive new venue, his first words, “This is very weird,” surely echoed the sentiments of many present, who seemed to be here more out of curiosity than anything else.

With a deft five-piece band in tow (including former Boomtown Rat Pete Briquette), Geldof, nattily dressed in pinstripe suit and red polka-dot shirt, kicked off with his last real hit, ‘The Great Song of Indifference’. With its mock Oirish singalong chorus and Pogues-like slapdash rhythm it had a section of the crowd up on their feet – a good start!

But how would songs from his latest album, the highly personal, introspective, Sex, Age And Death go down? Surprisingly well, in fact. Despite the predominant subject matter which ranges from anger and pain, to desperation and loss, numbers like ‘One For Me’ and ‘Mudslide’ seemed less claustrophobic and more dynamic then they do on record.

“I know you probably don’t know most of these songs but that’s your fault,” he quipped with characteristic nonchalance and it was nine numbers into the set before another familiar note was struck with a magnificent, ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’, a song which he reminded us has just been recorded by Brendan Bowyer and Tori Amos.

‘Inside Your Head’ from the new album was also more powerful in its live incarnation and the finale of ‘Rat Trap’ and another run through ‘The Great Song of Indifference’ wrapped up an enjoyable if slightly strange evening. Catch him when he hits the road here in February.