Kodaline at Virgin Media Park (Photos)

Friday night at Virgin Media Park felt entirely unique.

It was a celebration wrapped in a long goodbye. Following their stunning announcement that they would be calling it a day after their upcoming fifth studio album, We Were Only Young, indie-pop heroes Kodaline took to the stage in Virgin Media Park for one of their final farewell shows.

The atmosphere in Ballyphehane was electric from early in the evening. Clear skies and lingering summer sunshine bathed the stadium, setting a perfect visual backdrop for a band whose discography practically soundtracked the last decade-and-a-half of young Irish lives.

The evening kicked off with a stellar opening line-up. Nell Mescal delivered an emotive, soaring opening set that proved exactly why she's one of Ireland’s most exciting rising stars. Following her, Westmeath indie-rockers The Academic turned up the energy. Lead singer Craig Fitzgerald and the boys had the stadium bouncing, transforming the famous rugby venue into a massive, guitar-driven sing-along that perfectly primed the crowd for the main act.

When Steve Garrigan, Mark Prendergast, Vincent May, and Jason Boland stepped out under the Cork sunset, the wall of sound from the crowd was deafening. Knowing this would be their last chance to see the band live on Leeside, the audience didn't waste a single second before expressing their love and affestion.

Kodaline kicked the night off with 'Wherever You Are', instantly triggering a sea of raised phones and hands. "We're in Cork!" frontman Steve Garrigan shouted, a massive grin on his face that masked the inherent sadness of a farewell tour. During 'Brand New Day', the sheer volume of the crowd belting out the lyrics threatened to drown out the stadium's PA system. The band drew heavily in their decade-strong catalogue, striking a delicate balance between energetic pop anthems and the devastatingly raw acoustics that made them household names.

Highlight moments included, The Big Sing-Alongs: tracks like 'Brother' and 'High Hopes' felt heavier, packed with the emotional weight of a final curtain call.

There was a collective intake of breath across Virgin Media Park when Garrigan made his way to a satellite stage in the middle of the arena for two songs. First up was 'The One', which remains one of modern Ireland's definitive love songs, and looking across the pitch, there were plenty of tears to match the smiles. The second 'Without You', made for another heart-wrenching moment as dedicated fans began to feel an unsurpassabe height of emotion.

Previews from their final album, We Were Only Young, blended effortlessly into the set, showing a band still at the very peak of their songwriting powers. Of course, the night could only end one way. Coming back for a thunderous encore, the opening notes of 'All I Want' sent a powerful shiver of recognition through the venue. Under a canopy of stadium lights and thousands of flashlight beams, the Cork crowd gave everything they had left.

It was a truly extraordinary night...