The Script's first major Irish gig since the untimely passing of guitarist Mark Sheehan turned out to be one of the best surprises of the weekend.

The announcement that The Script were this year's secret headliners at Electric Picnic 2023 was not exactly greeted with enthusiasm from internet naysayers.

It only took the first few chords of the opening track 'Superhero' to prove those doubters wrong.

Danny O'Donoghue put himself in prime contention for frontman of the weekend, oozing charisma with his laddish charm.

Up for the craic from the get go , O'Donoghue challenged the Stradbally faithful to get him a pint of stout from the bar and get it to him in one piece.

Upon its reasonably unharmed arrival, he was egged on to neck it by the onlookers. Not one to shy away from a dare, he duly obliged, downing the pint in one.

Copyright Liam Murphy.

That wasn't the only challenge he overcame tonight.

O'Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, fought back the tears as they dedicated a touching and stripped back version of 'If You Could See Me Now' to late bandmate and friend Mark Sheehan

It was genuinely moving. At the end of the gig the lead singer said he'd take these moment to the grave-many in attendance tonight would feel the same.

On a lighter note, O'Donoghue showed his crowd playing prowess during 'Nothing', as he took a fan's phone to ring her ex-boyfriend (the now infamous Pat) for a four minute serenade.

Pat didn't show his face, but the expressions on Niamh's (the proprietor of the phone) were priceless.

Copyright Liam Murphy

Listening to the songs throughout the set, this reviewer forgot how many massive hits  the Dublin band have had over the years.

'Man Who Can't be Moved' took me back to those early morning school runs. I'm sure many others had the same nostalgic tendencies, as both parents and children in the crowd belted out the lyrics to 'Break Even'.

Surprisingly enough, it was The Script's first time playing the Picnic, bittersweet given how well they performed and how the late Sheehan was not around to be there for it.

Draped in the tricolour, O'Donoghue, now with a double-shot of whiskey in him too, said farewell with the anthemic 'Hall of Fame'.

The Script's last show of the year, they can "get fucked up and watch The Killers" (in O'Donoghue's words) knowing that they provided one of the weekend's most entertaining displays.