THEY sang in unison, those U2 fans from near and far. Some bought the debut album Boy, on its release date. Others too young to cast their minds back that far joyously serenaded the coming of their heroes' latest offering Pop at the midnight hour. The band didn't appear, but this is becoming an essential annual pilgrimage for U2 officianados.
"We started queuing at 10 a.m. today and we have been here for the first sale of the last three albums. The last time we were in Dublin was when the tickets for the Zooropa concert at the RDS went on sale," said Martin Shanahan, who lives in Leeds.
More than 500 descended on the HMV store in Grafton Street and were entertained during their long wait by Dave Fanning and his 2FM show live from the window. But as the U2 party swung into action in the band's native Dublin, there was a truly international feel. Camera crews from CNN and the music channel MTV interviewed the waiting devotees. Accents emanating from the hubbub included French and Italian among others.
Nina Slukan and her friend Monika Potocki, both from the Croatian capital, Zagreb, but staying in Rathmines, stood proudly near the front of the queue, just behind the couple from Leeds.
"I got here at midday today. I heard that Paul McGuinness was coming here that's a pretty good reason isn't it? Then I heard Bono was coming," said Nina.
Gearoid Oman, from Tallaght, was in the first rush to the counter as the doors opened on the stroke of midnight, he always is. But wouldn't tomorrow have done?
"The album is fresh, brand new, and I can rush home and start listening to it early in the morning," he explained. "I have a full vinyl collection of U2 albums and I wanted to get a vinyl copy. Eventually they will stop releasing
Rattle and Hum, which accompanied a movie of the same name, was the first album to be sold at midnight by HMV. Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop have now been afforded the same ceremony.
HMV in Cork, Limerick and Belfast, also opened early today to sell the first copies of Pop.