Staring At The Sun

Choppers swoop in and out of the trees like the evacuation of Saigon, hot air balloons hover overhead providing the best seats in the house and the river down below shimmers like molten silver. Out on the slopes leading down to the stage 70,000 delirious and lucky U2 fans are peeling off as fast as the temperature rises.

But it wasn't meant to be that way - according to the weather forecasters at any rate. The day had dawned over the banks of the Boyne with heavy grey skies pouring hard rain into the green pastures of Co Meath, threatening to turn Slane 2001 into yet another typically Irish festival muck-fest.

But by noon, as the crowds spilled into most spectacular natural concert arena in the world, the sun broke through and it stayed all day 'till it graciously swapped places with the moon just as the biggest band in the world exploded onto the stage.

Later, Bono would thank God for making the sun shine. If anyone is going to get the credit for the balmy late summer weather it might as well be the Almighty One. Praise the Lord and pass the lip-balm!

The scene in the castle compound VIP area was busy, as stars and wannabes, hacks and snappers watched everything that moved. And there was a lot to watch!

So who was there? Well in no particular order or star rating there was:

Natalie Imbruglia, Feargal from the Cranberries, Eddie Irvine, Ronan Keating and Brian Kennedy. Paul Brady looked resplendent in a straw stetson, while Paddy Moloney didn't look a day older (or younger) than he did when The Chieftains supported the Rolling Stones at the second ever Slane concert 19 years ago. A dapper Ronnie Drew seemed to be in mighty form. U2 manager Paul McGuinness chatted to almost everyone, a permanent smile on his face.

Meanwhile others who played crucial roles in the U2 story from the beginning were also prominent including Dave Fanning, Jim Sheridan, Billy McGrath and ex-Prunes Gavin and Guggi. Thespians Woodie Harrelson and John Hurt wandered around casually and hey look there's funnyman Lee Evans in a pork pie hat.

Kelis - a true Angel of Harlem (and looking for all the world like Macy Gray’s kid sister), posed for photographers, signed autographs and generally charmed everyone within eyeshot. Lord Henry posed with Westlife's Brian McFadden. In fact, Lord Henry posed with everyone who asked him. Who else? Adi Roche was smiling and Philomena Lynott, whose late son Philo and Thin Lizzy headlined the very first Slane in 1981, looked as well as she always does.

But it wasn't all designer suits and shades. Members of the Waterford Freewheelers Motorcylce club, in full leathers and denim, cut a dash among the glitterati - the Bono/Larry Harley Davidson connection alive and well.

Something of a Slane veteran, the ever-popular former Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, chatted amiably with the press on the steps of the castle. We already knew she was a huge Robbie Williams and Verve fan but what did she know about U2? "To be honest I'm not really all that familiar with U2's music," she admitted. "But people tell me they're worth seeing so I'm looking forward to it. Apart from that I'm having a great time. I've just had a drink with my husband, been playing with some kids and chatting with Lord Henry."

Mowlam apart, politicians were thin enough on the ground at Slane but Green Party TD Trevor Sargent wandered around sporting a fetching T-shirt with "Ban the Burn" emblazoned on both sides. Who is The Burn and why should it be banned. We should be told!

Long-time U2 fan, Divine Comedy front man Neil Hannon arrived direct from U2's Earls Court gig earlier in the week. "I've been a fan since the mid-eighties," he beamed. "My older brother had Under a Blood Red Sky and War on two sides of a blank tape and we played it 'till it wore out. Then I went out and bought Unforgettable Fire and I saw them was in Croke Park on the Joshua Tree Tour

Would he rather be up on stage performing than among the crowd?

"I'd love to have been on the bill. But unfortunately it didn't fit in with our schedule and it probably didn't fit in with U2's schedule either!"

Samantha Mumba breezes past in a fierce hurry altogether but we manage to grab a quick word. So is she a big U2 fan or just here for the day out?

"Yeah, I love U2 and I'm having a great time here today. Bye.”

In the 15 minutes or so before U2 took to the stage, a strange calm descended in and around the castle compound. For the first time all day the bar tents emptied out and the food queues disappeared. Those VIP's lucky enough to have access to the specially constructed viewing stand scurried up the steps, while the rest poured out into the arena where the crowd was working itself into a frenzy. Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town' boomed out of the PA and echoed around the castle just like it did 20 years ago when Philo and the Boys were Dublin's rock royalty and U2 were four young hopefuls running to standstill.

And for another lucky 70,000 the encore is yet to come.