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The Dublin Experience: FanGuide
{{{Going to the Dublin show? Want to? Here's all the info you need, from prince.org member 'riverjones'!}}}
Information On Dublin Concert
Greetings all! As you know Prince has included Dublin, Ireland on his upcoming one night alone tour in Europe.
This will be Prince’s 6th concert in Ireland – previous visits included:
• Nude Tour, July 1990, Pairc Ui Chaoimh Football Stadium, Cork, Ireland – Approx 65,000 people in attendance (sellout)
• Diamonds & Pearls Tour, June 1992, Royal Dublin Society Show jumping Grounds, Dublin, Ireland – Approx 35,000 in attendance (sellout)
• Live Experience Tour X 2 concerts, March 1995, The Point Theatre, Dublin, - Approx 7,000 in attendance (sellout).
• Live Experience Aftershow, March 1995, The Pod Nightclub, Dublin, Approx 600 people in attendance (packed to the rafters!) This show included a duet with Bono of U2 on The Cross. In my opinion Bono did a great job murdering the song and shocked Price from our shores for the following 7 years!
The Concert
One Night alone show will take place in the point on Thursday October 10th, 2002.
I spoke with the promoters this morning and they confirmed Prince is expected on stage ‘shortly after 8.30pm’
The Venue
On the night, the venue will be all seated. Normally, the balconies are seated and the ground is standing, so this is good news and it will bring the capacity down to approx 4000-5000 people. The acoustics / sound in this venue are superb. While it is technically called a theatre, it is an arena & the seating can be changed easily. Right now, Miss Saigon is playing there so that gives an indication of how good it is.
NPGMC Members
I can confirm the front rows are reserved for NPGMC members - preparations are in progress to allow member in house at approx 6-7pm.
Getting To Dublin
From Australasia / South America – best bet is to route through London
From USA – Direct flights daily from New York, Chicago, and LA via Aer Lingus, go to http://www.aerlingus.com and book online. Continental airlines serve Newark – Dublin couple times per week, and I believe Delta fly Atlanta – Dublin almost daily.
From Canada – Air Canada serve Toronto-Dublin direct
From Europe- lots of direct flight from all 4 London airports & all major UK cities, plus direct flights from Milan, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Paris, Nice, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam, Brussels, Edinburgh, Zurich, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Munich etc.
See aer lingus site. http://www.ryanair.com operate out of London, Brussels, Paris etc.
Getting To Dublin City
Dublin airport is located approximately 7 miles from city centre. During non rush hour times, it will take 30 minutes to get to the centre and 1 hour during rush hour.
Typical taxi fare is 20ish euro each way but a bus service is also available at less than 10 euro.
More information available at
http://www.dublin-airport...N_GetThere
Please note there is no subway in Dublin and it is fairly congested with lots of road construction right now.
Where To Stay
Westbury Hotel
Grafton Street
Dublin 2
Tel : +353-1679-1122
This is 5* and costs approx 200 euro per night. 10 minute taxi ride or 35-40 minute walk to the venue.
O'Callaghan Hotel Group
4 hotels in Dublin city, all are 3* / 4*
Tel +353-1607-3900
Will cost approx 70-100 euro per night.
B&B (bed and breakfast) is the lower cost option, and range from 30-40 euro per person per night. You get a room + a great breakfast next morning.
The best ones are in Drumcondra, on the city centre – Airport road, approx 10 minutes to The Point and 15 mins to airport by taxi.
Try Abberley House B&B, 19 Upper St Columbas Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, tel +353-1830-9359 (is 10 minute taxi ride to the point)
Try Aran House, 5 Homefarm Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. tel, 353-1836-7395.
If they are full, ask for referral to another one near the point as possible.
There are some in the city also but will be more expensive and I do not know any off hand
The Atmosphere
I truly believe Prince loves an Irish audience. We are very vocal, sing along, clap and shout like crazy. All previous shows were great. Prince did not appear to enjoy his Cork performance and it only last 1 hour 40 minutes. I understand he went back to LA via London afterwards to attend a Grafitti Bridge editing meeting as initial feedback on this project was negative. Only a rumour, please do not kill me on this.
The Dublin show was fab, he loved it. His car driver on the night was a neighbour Prince told him ‘he had great fun tonight’ but they did not speak any further.
Prince loved the point gigs (doesn’t he like smaller audiences?) first 1000 people through the door got free npg t-shirts. He showed up at a club after the first gig and went to private area out of view. The following night he did aftershow party and I got to shake his hand!!!
During the afterparty, he spoke about music ownership ‘I own that song unlike the others’ when he performed ..most beautiful girl…
He also said ‘Bono was telling me today how special Dublin is, the scenary, the back doors (reference to pubs I believe), and the people, you know what, I think this city is special because of the people’ Sonny T went a little awol on bass and Prince said ‘barman, can you bring me some of the Guinness Sonny was drinking’
I got to speak to Mr Hayes and Michael B while in Dublin and asked Michael which audiences in Europe were most receptive . Michael believed Holland were number 1, followed by London, and then Ireland. Mr Hayes agreed.
Finally before Prince left the stage that night he said ‘ Dublin, anytime you want me back just let me know, I love you’. Well, I have e-mailed npg many times reminding them of this and 7 years later we want you back more than ever. We need you back.
Prince, you are a genius beyond understanding and hold a very special place in Ireland’s heart.
Fellow fans, come on over to Dublin, if you need anymore info, e-mail through the org.
Love4oneanother!
RJ