When you have a church, a worshiping congregation and a Welshman who wants to preach love, you have . . . eh, a rock gig, of course. We leave the sunshine on Temple Street and descend to The Crypt, in the bowels of Temple Theatre in Dublin 1. The concert promoters whisper with evangelical zeal that the star attraction of an upcoming mega rock event in August is singer/songwriter, David Gray, from St Davids in Wales. He has sold more than 100,000 albums in Ireland and he's here! And he may come to meet us. Gray is so busy at the moment, he hasn't had a chance to write any songs lately but when he does, he says: "Love is the general theme, with a certain amount of hate thrown in where it's necessary." He does come out to chat briefly.
In with all the rockers at the Crypt are Garda Superintendent John Farrelly and Garda Inspector Simon O'Connor, who are here "to enjoy the Ballygowan and I love old churches," says Farrelly, looking about him. Who does he know in the rock world, we wonder? "I know a few people who were buried here," he quips. One member of the crew for promoters MCD, Justin Green, says: "Ireland has been starved of music events of this diversity," - starved, we are! - referring to the multifaceted rock event planned for August, to be called Witness. It'll be like a feis ceoil, we suggest. "This is different," he says.
Enjoying the beautiful St George's Church, which dates from the early 19th century, are Ned O'Hanlon and Maurice Linnane who head up Dreamchaser, a TV production company which works mostly in the music industry with the likes of U2, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Pearl Jam and the Cranberries. It's dark but we discern Denis Desmond, managing director of MCD, going by all in black, looking like a cat burgler. Tonight our hosts ply us with Guinness, the brewery having created the Witness event. Alleluia and here's to the gig, which will feature more than 50 artists on five stages and will take place at Fairyhouse Racecourse over the August bank holiday weekend.