They came from all over Ireland for the first open air concerts of the year. Buses lined up along Drumcondra Avenue and any other available roads, the identifying registration letters proving that a Garth Brooks show is worth travelling hundreds of miles for.
As well as the buses taking up space, were the usual "unofficial" merchandisers. This time, though, there was an upmarket take on business, for alongside the requisite scarves and bandannas were classy charcoal line drawings of those other country cowboys, James Dean and John Wayne.
Inside Croke Park over the weekend were more than 120,000 people, most of them touched by the hand of Garth. Had he had his say, that would have been trebled.
There can only be three concerts a year in Croke Park, says Darren Smith, EMI Ireland's Press & Promotions Officer, but he could have kept himself very busy by playing it for over a week. Not that Garth Brooks hasn't been busy. He arrived in Ireland a full week before his three sellout concerts, very much in preparation for the filming of them by NBC's 10 camera crews (including two helicopter based crews so as to shoot the entire length of the stage).
"Impromptu" gigs in The Brazen Head and Bray, Co Wicklow, promotional duties, and retail meet'n'greets also took up his time. The Irish video company, Dreamchaser, was also filming a "making of the show" documentary.
Throughout the shows - Garth Brooks's biggest ever production - the first official sign that summer had arrived was the sighting of the Mexican wave. Grown men and women wearing cowboy hats and denim waistcoats danced themselves into reverie under the huge "G" logos flanking the main stage. Truly, the G spot had been hit.
"We came here to raise some hell, and have some fun," said Garth from the stage. And they did. Mums, dads, teenagers, children. Everyone.
"Basically, his music is good," said Dawn Heery (27), from Cork. "That's why I like him. I'm not usually into country music, but his material crosses over into rock and pop." "I preferred his older music," said Terry O'Sullivan (24), also from Cork. "This show is spectacular, but I go to concerts for the music, not the lights. I went to Oasis, and I'm going to Michael Jackson, too." Oasis, Michael Jackson, and Garth Brooks?
Looks like that thorny old generation gap just doesn't exist anymore. It's no wonder Garth Brooks smiles so much.