Exclusive: The Rolling Stones to play Slane

The event will take place on Saturday August 18.
The Stones – who were the biggest grossing live act in the world last year, ahead of U2 – last appeared outdoors in Ireland in 1982, when they headlined Slane, so the gig will be like a sort of homecoming for Mick Jagger and the boys.
The band had been scheduled to bring their A Bigger Bang tour to the Phoenix Park in August 2006, but were forced to cancel as the result of a legal row that flared between rival promoters and the Office Of Public Works.
In a shock development, the possibility of a second Slane gig has also emerged, with UK industry insiders insisting that strenuous efforts are being made to bring The Police there, on September 1st.
The reformed new wavers had originally been a target for Croke Park dates, but a check of their schedule confirms that it will be difficult if not impossible to slot them into GAA HQ during their preferred window, in September, because of the All-Ireland finals.
It's against that background that the Slane option is now being pursued – though how local residents will respond if this escalation of activity in the Meath village is confirmed remains to be seen.