Special arrangements have been put in place to ensure those taking public transport to today's U2 concert in Slane are not left waiting for hours to get a bus home.
Last week up to 3,000 concert-goers were left waiting until 2.45 a.m. for buses to Dublin. Dublin Bus said it had several buses waiting five miles outside the village, but gardai prevented them from travelling into Slane for safety reasons.
Mr Christy Dorman, manager of media and public relations with the company, said arrangements had been made for a Garda escort for buses to McGrudders Cross, about a 20minute walk from Slane Castle, after 11 p.m. Extra buses would also be provided, he confirmed.
Supt Eamon Courtney, of Navan, appealed yesterday to those travelling to the concert to avail of public transport. He also warned fans who suspected their tickets might be forgeries to have them checked before travelling to Slane.
A spokesman for MCD said the running order of the concert has been amended to accommodate the Republic of Ireland soccer match against The Netherlands. On the giant screens, fans at Slane will see highlights of the first half and live coverage of the second half.
Meanwhile the Red Cross said sunburn, dehydration and minor crush injuries were commonplace at last weekend's concert. It urged concert-goers to take steps to avoid similar instances today.
Favourable weather is expected for the event. Mr Vincent O'Shea of Met Eireann said it would be overcast in the morning, but any drizzle should clear by midday, giving a dry, humid day with temperatures possibly as high as 21 degrees.
Signposted diversions will be in place for traffic travelling north and south on the N2 until after the concert.
The Irish Times website, ireland.com, has put together a special site to mark U2's Slane concerts. It contains reviews of last week's gig, a picture gallery, interviews, trivia and vox pops as well as a look back at how each of the band's 10 albums were received by the critics. The site can be accessed from www.ireland.com