U2 Ireland Gigs

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

http://www.ntlworld.com/partners/itn...nt/1808068.php


U2's long-awaited Dublin concerts have smashed box office records as 160,000 tickets were snapped up in less than 50 minutes.

Tickets for the Croke Park gigs on June 24 and 25 went on sale at 8am and both dates were sold out within the hour.

Justin Green, spokesman for MCD Promoters, said: "It has set a new box office record. Nothing like it has ever been seen in Ireland before.

"Unfortunately, there's thousands and thousands of disappointed fans all over the country which is disappointing, but there's only two dates confirmed."

He said that ticket outlets had been "bombarded" by fans. "We could have sold a million tickets," he added.

People determined to see the Vertigo 2005 Tour have been stationed outside ticket outlets in Dublin's city centre since Tuesday with sleeping bags, ski gear and food.

Vincent Kearns started the queue for Ticketmaster outside St Stephen's Green shopping centre at 6pm on Tuesday evening.

He said: "It's all grand, there's never any problems.

"People are coming over and patting us on the back and saying they hope we get some tickets, or looking for advice about tickets."

Martin Shanahan, a self-employed gardener, travelled from London to join the queue on Wednesday morning.

"I live in London, and I will go back when I've secured tickets for every date," Mr Shanahan said.

The band will play in 13 US cities before performing 24 European gigs, finishing with Lisbon in August.