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Organiser denies that Oasis Slane gig was marred by chaos
Monday, 22 June 2009
It was a tale of two Slanes. On the one hand, fans were complaining vehemently yesterday about transport problems — buses in particular — as well as access to the venue and to the bars.
On the other, gardai and organisers said that their plans had been implemented successfully and that the 80,000 people in attendance had to be “realistic” in their expectations.
One concert goer, who paid for his Dublin Bus fare to and from Slane, told the Irish Independent that he was refused from “scores” of buses before eventually making it onto a bus that eventually left at 3.45am yesterday. There were also reports of people sleeping at the side of the road because they could not get on a bus.
Another, Vinnie Moran (26) from Dublin, said that it took him two-and-a-half hours to get into the concert along the narrow entry path to Slane castle. He said people were “herded like cattle” into the venue.
“I personally saw about five fist fights,” he said. “There were people who could barely even stand. There were so many people herded together that I thought anything could set it off.”
MCD’s Justin Green said last night: “We do accept there were some delays entering the venue mainly due to the larger number of fans who decided without advance booking to make use of public transport.
“While bars were the same size/number as previous sell-out concerts, the fans who attended on Saturday had a larger appetite for alcohol consumption. Both of the issues raised above will be addressed for future concerts.”
Slane owner Lord Henry Mountcharles said that he had not yet had any reports of people complaining about transport and access to the venue. A spokesperson for Dublin Bus said they had everyone out of Slane by 2am and said people had to be “realistic” in their expectations.
“We transported in excess of 20,000 people down to Slane over a six-to-eight hour period and everyone wanted to go home at the same time. Obviously, that's not possible.”
Castle rocks in throwback to 90s
If you closed your eyes at Slane Castle, you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in the mid-90s.
If you opened them again you could be forgiven for thinking you had arrived at a rather large teenage disco.
The ‘yoof’ element descended on Slane on Saturday in their thousands, a testament to the longevity of headliners Oasis and support act The Prodigy, both of whom were in their pomp over a decade ago. In truth, it was a welcome antidote to the last Slane, when the Rolling Stones played to a mostly middle-aged crowd who were content to stand back, shielded from the rain in their wax jackets, and let the concert wash over them.
“I can safely say that this has been the best day of my life,” opined one boozed-up teen to no one in particular as he left.
“Slane Castle, you've been f****** biblical,” said Liam Gallagher as the band reached their final few tunes. And it was hard not to be impressed, when you turned from the stage, with the River Boyne behind it, and looked up the hill to see 80,000 people bathed in purple light belting out ‘Champagne Supernova’.
The Irish-rooted Gallagher family, including mam Peggy, were all out in force having travelled over en masse from Manchester.
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Comments
30 Comments
I travelled to Dublin with my mate from Glasgow for 3 nights for the concert, i must say the concert in its self was amence Kasabian, Oasis and the Prodigy were amazing! But trying to get from slane back to Dublin was another matter!! No buses for anyone... i walked for about 2/3 miles to find a bus it was ridiclous the amount of people just lying at the side of the road going to sleep Dublin buses have alot to answer for! Ireland was lovely not so sure about the walk tho!
Posted by jacqueline young | 27.06.09, 14:37 GMT
I travelled to Dublin with three friends from Leamington Spa for three nights. In total we spent roughly 500 euros each,in which 275 euros was spent on the Concert ticket, plane fare, accommodation and finally the bus ticket to Slane via Eircom buses. If is was not for the fantastic performance by Oasis, Prodigy and company, then I would be sueing Slane Castle organisers. They could not organise a **** up in the Guiness factory! We left the concert @ 10:15 and arrived back in Dublin @ 04:15a.m??
Posted by Alan Bryan | 24.06.09, 22:11 GMT
Amazing gig. Thanks Oasis. But apart from that it was absolute chaos from start to finish, especially getting to and from the gig – walking for two hours through woodland to get to a venue, nobody at the entrance checking tickets but worst of all was yet to come. We walked 7 miles after the gig only to find that there was no chance of catching any of the Dublin buses. Not that it made a blind bit of difference, as these buses were gridlocked due to bad policing and absolutely no traffic control. Shambles.
I find it difficult to comprehend why, after so many years of holding events at Slane, event organizers haven’t sorted out suitable travel arrangement! God forbid what may of happened if someone was to need urgent medical attention on ‘that’ road leading into Slane village after the gig. Chance of survival would have been very slim – not only because of the traffic and bad lighting but also as there was not an ambulance in sight.
Terrifying. Just don’t go there! End of
Posted by cockyhorse | 24.06.09, 12:53 GMT
the bands were great, pity the concert organisers didn't emulate their proffessionalism. Walking 9km along the motorway in the dark is not 'all part of the day's craic'. organisers themselves need to 'be realistic'. is it unrealistic to expect them to organise transport for the amount of people who they have sold tickets for 80 pounds? I think not.
Posted by Ben | 23.06.09, 18:39 GMT
I travelled from Nottingham, UK. We found a local guy offering the use of his field to park, a 15 minute walk from the gig (no waiting around for buses - we were back in Donore by midnight).
We sat in the sun all afternoon next to the river and made our way to the castle around 3.30, a straightforward walk through a tree lined path, to be met with the most amazing view of thousands of people relaxing in the sun waiting for the headliners to arrive.
Oasis were amazing, so was the setting.
Posted by rebecca | 23.06.09, 15:18 GMT
We went over from Glasgow and forseen these problems based on the two hours it took us to get into the venue along that muddy path. we had to leave during "Dont Look Back In Anger" in order to hope we got to dublin in time for a few beers. yet still we didnt make it. Thank you to oasis for a fantastic show at a fantastic venue, but never again will i go thro the hell we went to going to and returning from the castle one work somes the orginizatation up "SHOCKING"
Posted by chris | 23.06.09, 15:05 GMT
This might be unpopular, but i had a great time. We got to Slane about 11am (parked in designated car park 1 mile from venue) no queues at venue, strolled in, got pit passes, saw all the bands - The Prodigy stole it - home by 3am. It was a bit of a cattle drive leaving the gig & half hr Q at bar - no worse than expected - but nothing that spoiled the day for me. I'm sorry for anyone who had a bad experience, but reading all the comments here makes me feel like i was at a completely other gig.
Posted by Shirl | 23.06.09, 14:58 GMT
We started to walk up the hill towards the exit just as the last songs were being sung which was around 10.30 and didnt get back into dublin city centre untill 3.50am We walked for 2 hours to get on a bus, then the bus didn't move for over an hour. When it did start moving it moved a few feet at a time. It took 40 mins to get to the bar so we didnt buy any drink - they must've lost out on a fortune in possible drink sales.
Although the prodigy and oasis were excellent, we wont be going again
Posted by Andrea | 23.06.09, 13:56 GMT
Oasis was brilliant, but Gardai and Dublin Bus were total disaster.
Posted by jane1979 | 23.06.09, 13:56 GMT
Oasis was magical, every thing musicly was great!
Dublin bus was *****, came back into Dublin at 4:00 AM, after waiting for busses that never came. Thx to one Gardai that managed to stop a bus for us!
Posted by jure | 23.06.09, 13:17 GMT
arrived at slane at 5pm; 7.30 by the time we finally got inside after a very long & dangerous walk thru a muddy path with 1000s of ppl - i saw a total of 4 stewards! after, we walked for 3.5 hours b4 being allowed on a dublin bus that we had pre-paid (we sat on the floor) it was 5am b4 we got back to r hotel! prodigy were good and oasis were amazin but having spent a lot of money 2 travel from north & a place 2 stay not 2 mention tickets (which i wasnt asked 4) it wasnt worth it! never again!!
Posted by Lyla | 23.06.09, 12:53 GMT
oasis and the prodigy were class ecspecially oasis and if you were stupid enough not to smuggle in a bottle of vodka and run through the woods to skip that nightmare green mile and a half walk into the concert than tough. you have to improvise coz the organisation was ridiculous. the guards must of been the thickest guards on the force they hadn;t a clue what was going on. q an hour or more for a beer. no way swig ur vodka and orange and dont miss any of the concert.u'll get home eventually....
Posted by gary dyer | 23.06.09, 12:45 GMT
Came from England & had a great time! Dropped @ 2pm, walked thru loadsa drunk teens, thru a Garda point & asked for ticks @ venue. Inside FREE water, TONS of clean loos, stwrds/Garda, not seen that @ other big events! Only 2 of our grp afforded a drink @ €6 a pint, tho we saw tons gettin hammered & puking. All bands were awesome! We were picked up in rd outside & back by 12am. Only gripes were prices inside, exits too smll, & men weeing behind us tho loo 2 min away! Vry happy 2 go 2 Slane again!
Posted by Rokchik | 23.06.09, 12:15 GMT
I travelled from Cornwall with my wife and daughter to attend saturdays fiasco. It took over 2 hours to get from the entrance gate to the site, walking down a poorly lit and totally inadequate access lane. I'd have asked for my money back if there had been anybody checking tickets. This after walking over 2 miles from where the bus "Dumped us" Rip off bus deals is one thing total disregard for the safety of my and many others loved ones is another. wild horses wouldn't drag me back to this venue
Posted by Hall family | 23.06.09, 12:08 GMT
I was appalled at the lack of security, organisation and safety measures at Slane Castle - and that was just on the way in. I imagine it was nothing short of life-threatening on the way out which is why - having come from London - we chose to miss half of Oasis and exit early. How dare the organisers say the crowd should have 'realistic expectations' ? They would do well to get a dose of this realism themselves and sell fewer tickets. Or perhaps pay for more than FOUR staff on the entrance.
Posted by Laura | 23.06.09, 11:21 GMT
Oasis were superb! the organisation of the event was horrific! 2+ hours to get in, missed kasabian, no chance of a drink! We got to our Dublin hotel at 5:30 am, after walking for miles to find a bus and then sit on it going no where for hours. At one point an ambulance with its lights going tried to get down the road passed our still stationary bus and just had to stop for 15 minutes whilst the Garda cleared the grass verge of busses and people to allow it through, I hope it wasnt an emergency!
Posted by Rob | 23.06.09, 11:17 GMT
Left Dublin at 1.30 and got there at 4 and was stupidly looking for a big Castle and didn’t realise we had a 50mile trek to get there. Missed Glasvegas but got there in time for Kasabian, who were brilliant! Couldn’t get a drink and wished I’d took my own, though you don’t need a drink when The Prodigy and Oasis are right in front of you - they were both amazing and made all the hassle worth it. Bus back to Dublin was a nitemare, got back at 5am. Overall though, superb gigs!
Posted by Angela, Glasgow | 23.06.09, 11:11 GMT
Travelled from England for the worst concert experiance ever
Left early to get the bus ...... won't be going back
Posted by stevegam | 23.06.09, 09:50 GMT
Slane was Phenomenal, id agree that bar facilities were Poor, the queues were soo long but in saying that I think that the long wait at the bar discouraged alot of people from over drinking at an event you surely wouldnt want to be forgetting due to the after effects of one too many. Id have to say, ive experienced worse toilet facilities at much smaller events so altho they werent great it could have been much worse. and as for the long walks, its all in a days craic is it not?
Posted by Grainne | 23.06.09, 02:06 GMT
I agree with many of the comments below and I would say 3 things: put all this in the context, that this was in our recessionary times, for many the only 'splash' of the summer, students, young people etc. Slane was something to look forward to.
1) allowing no-alcohol from a 1-2 mile perimeter of the village, and then having only 3 understaffed pubs to serve alcohol to an 80,000 strong crowd was farcical. 2) 2hr walk in for €80 is unacceptable 3) 5.5km walk to the buses is logistic nonsense.
Posted by Neil | 23.06.09, 00:49 GMT
30 Comments