Taylor Swift stuns with the first of her Croke Park shows!

Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the holy trinity of modern pop perform at that most sacred of stadiums, Croke Park. Headlined by the seemingly indefatigable, mainstream cracking modern day icon Taylor Swift, and bolstered by the always brilliant Charli XCX and next big thing Camila Cabello, this union of the genre's brightest stars is fit for the fabled banquet halls of Valhalla itself – and your intrepid Hot Press scribe is front and centre of the congregation, to soak up every moment.

Crammed to the rafters full of tens of thousands of fans, some of whom are in cosplay, XCX adopts a Chinese burn-like approach when it comes to warming up those assembled, wasting little time before delivering a knockout blow in the form of the near perfect pop gem 'Boom Clap'. The punk peppered 'Break The Rules,' one of the finest moments from Sucker, is snottier than a summertime hay fever convention (that's totally a thing, fight fans...) and her version of Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy' leaves us wishing her short but sweet set might last a little longer. Fingers crossed there's an Irish headline show in the pipeline for this increasing impressive hitmaker.

Next up, former Fifth Harmony member, turned bona fide solo star in her own right, Camila Cabello takes to the stage for a performance that asserts she's also a potential mega-star in the ascendant. Though we could've done without her cover of the King's 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You', mid-paced electronic power ballad 'Never Be The Same' thrives live, and her current calling card 'Havana' is a huge hit with the faithful.

And now, it's time for our headliner. Well into phase two of the Taylo-verse, Swift's transition from talented country queen to super slick pop starlet has been as smooth as Vin Diesel's cranium. In some respects, tonight’s show feels it's about the star proving a point. There is a feeling that, in some way, this Dublin stadium gig has become about asserting herself as planet pop’s numero uno star. Full to bursting point with bells, whistles and gimmicks – including fireworks, flames and a massive fucking snake (insert your own Simon Cowell joke here folks) – the Reputation World Tour is a real spectacle. Looking lithe and in charge, Swift serves as the consummate ringmaster from the get-go.

Opening strongly with a hat trick of treats from recent opus Reputation – the rumbling '...Ready For It?', the diabolically good 'I Did Something Bad' and the aptly named, sugar sweet 'Gorgeous' – a light bulb goes on: we are about to be treated to a show that marries sound and vision in a uniquely fun and provocative way.

A brief blast of power pop hit from yesteryear 'You Belong With Me', serves as an enjoyable stroll down memory lane and a reminder she hasn't forgotten her roots; next there's an injection of rock-minded guitars on 'Look What You Made Me Do' that give the tongue in cheek anthem even more bite. Taylor's tour-mates joining her onstage for 'Shake It Off' is a stadium-sized moment (Cabello gets extra points for sporting an Ireland football jersey), while an acoustic version of country-pop Speak Now classic ‘Mean’ delights the die hards.

There are some lesser interludes (slow jam 'Dress' derails the show slightly, and there are some big songs which are conspicuous by their omission, such as '22') – but the singer's star power and, most importantly, her songwriting suss ensure they're only brief. Signing off with the euphoric one-two punch of 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' and 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things', Taylor's biggest Irish show to date feels like a triumph.

Will she be as popular in ten years time? Who knows, but as she waves goodbye fireworks light up the sky – and the smart money is on Swift lasting the distance.