100,000 of all ages enjoy big Phoenix Park concert

A hundred thousand pop fans of all ages danced and sashayed to sounds from over 30 acts at Europe's biggest free concert in the Phoenix Park at the weekend.

Among those performing were Welsh choirgirl-turned-pop-diva Charlotte Church, N17 favourites the Saw Doctors, Derry city's Claire Sprule, the Camembert Quartet and the Celebrity You're a Star sensation David Mitchell.

Now in its fourth year, the O2 In The Park concert is free and, unlike most concerts, has no age restriction. Those in the crowd who spoke to The Irish Times had got their free tickets from a variety of sources - newspaper giveaways, sponsors or over the internet from O2.

Among them were Pauline Maguire (22) and Tara Fitzgerald (23), both from Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, who had travelled up on Saturday morning.

"It's good for a free concert," said Pauline. "It's going fine and it's a good day out, a good trip up to Dublin." Their friend, Karen Toolin (21) from Donegal town, said it was "good for young people to be able to go to a big concert. And it's good it's not raining. We're waiting for the Saw Doctors to get things going a bit." Alan Doyle (28), from Tallaght, said it was "a grand day, a lovely atmosphere".

Though organisers insisted all one hundred thousand ticket-holders had turned up on Saturday, others who had been at the event in previous years said there were fewer there this year. People left in significant numbers throughout the afternoon, with a number at about 3.30pm explaining children in their party were tired, while others said they were "bored".

Some said it was "not as good as last year". Fiona Askin (16) from Monaghan and her friend Amanda McCabe said: "There was a better atmosphere last year, there were better acts, like Girls Aloud, Westlife, and the weather was much better."

Echoing them, Meave Ryan (16) from Naas, Co Kildare who was there with Eleanor Jones (15), Stephanie Buke (15) and Sarah Bucknell (15) also from Naas, said: "It's OK, not as good as last year."

Families however seemed wholly enthusiastic about the event. One father from Clondalkin, Dublin, with his wife and four children, described the concert as "fantastic" and "very well-organised".

Gardai said the crowd was "largely well behaved". Though a small number of people had to be ejected from the site, no one was arrested at the gig which ended at 7pm.