3.10.01 - BBC News

The Slane one-day festival, this year headlined by U2, has sold out in just over half an hour.

There was frenzied demand as the 80,000 tickets for the August event at Slane Castle, near Dublin, went on sale at 0700GMT on Saturday.

U2, who recently picked up an outstanding contribution award at the Brits, will play Slane at the end of a sprinkling of UK dates as part of their Elevation tour.

The ten-hour event at Slane will also include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Kelis, JJ72 and Relish.

There were angry scenes in Dublin after fans that had waited outside ticket outlets since Friday morning missed out to those booking over the internet or by telephone.

In Dublin, one youth was arrested and extra police officers were called in as disappointed fans were turned away from Ticketmaster on Grafton Street.

Last month U2 turned back the clock by playing their smallest UK venue for nearly 18 years at the Astoria in London.

For many years the band's lavish stage sets and huge demand for tickets has meant they have tended to play stadiums and outdoor venues.

Return to Slane

Concerts at Manchester's MEN Arena, Birmingham NEC and London's Earl's Court mark a return to indoor venues for U2.

The Irish quartet, who will play a string of north American and European dates beforehand, then go to Slane where 20 years ago they supported Thin Lizzy.

Slane, 20 miles north of Dublin in County Meath has been a historic concert venue for 18 years, hosting acts from Queen to Bruce Springsteen during the 1980s.

Recent headliners include Bryan Adams last year and Robbie Williams in 1999 and the Verve played their last concert there in 1998, an occasion attended by then-Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam.

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