// RIP MCB //

// RIP MCB //

On September 3rd, 2010, Project Dublin lost one of the founders. The instigator who came up with this crazy plan. "Scott - U2 has a concert on your birthday in Dublin. I'll buy the ticket as a birthday present. We can use my buddy passes to fly for free. It will be great!!!" The trip actually happened, we made it to Dublin and...

// WE SAW U2 ROCK DUBLIN FOR GOD SAKES //

Matthew Carl Bell was the First Officer on UPS006. The Boeing 747-400F that crashed in the evening hours outside of Dubai, AE.

He lived his life to the fullest and this blog memorializes the six months of anticipation leading up to the concert. We had an amazing trip and it never would have happened without Matt coming up with this hair brained idea.

I'm thankful to have had him as my friend for 20 years.

SBS

/// SBS & MCB MAKE IT TO DUBLIN ///

PROJECT DUBLIN HAS ARRIVED!!!!

SBS and MCB made it to Dublin by flying through Brussels, hoping on an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin and finally, taking a cab to the hotel.

MCB had a prime seat up in first class for the flight over. 1G was the first row window seat. SBS on the other hand ended up in the cattle car sitting in 41G dead last row of the 767. Luckally, SBS had the row to himself.

// U2 changes support act for June 24th //

At the last minute, U2 changes openning acts for the June 24th Croke Park concert.

"16.06.2005

Paddy Casey Now Saturday, Dublin

Support acts for the three Croke Park shows have been shuffled. Latest here.

Paddy Casey is now playing main support to U2 for the Saturday show at Croke Park, not the Friday as previously announced.

If you are one of the quarter of a million people heading to Dublin for the three U2 shows starting next weekend, here's the confirmed list of support acts as we have it.

June 24th: Radiators/Snow Patrol
June 25th: Paddy Casey
June 27th: Ash/The Bravery

Latest news on who is playing with U2 where, here"



Who are the Radiators??


"One support act this summer has a unique and ongoing connection with U2.

The Radiators (Plan 9) are set to play support on the Saturday night of U2's three shows at Croke Park in Dublin.

If you weren't around at the time, The Radiators hail from the same (Dublin) town and (late-1970's) time as U2 themselves. But the loss to rock music with their demise was the gain of graphic design as Steve Averill went on to become the creative mind who set the tone for the design of U2 record sleeves, t-shirts and posters from then until now.

But The Radiators are still with us! We'll be talking more to Steve about The Radiators shortly, but the best place for more right now is here

For those Aussie fans - thank goodness it's not the aussie radiators, for those who remember"

// "HOT TIPS FOR DUBLIN" //

A Dublin native put this post on Zootopia

- Dont take the car
- Ensure you are with people you know
- Expect a great pint of stout,but be prepared to queue
- Get there early (like lunchtime) and soak up the vibes.(if the queues for the bar are too long)
-Drinke yer own alcohol as long as you can (legally) - the prices will be proposterous.
-When a chant goes up - join in - you'll love yerself for the experience
-Dont pretend you know the band personally - we see through that bullshit
-Love thy neighbour - he/she will be yer best mate for the two minutes that you know each other.
-full respect to the guards (police) - they take no shit!
-full respect to the publicans - they'll take the shit - up to a point!
-Admire Croker - before you enter - its a hell of a stadium.
-Admire each other (not too closely) before we enter the stadium,and remember we are the best in the world.
-Suss out the Georgian architecture on Gardiner St.
-Dont park your car there!
-Visit Windmill Lane if you can (my autograph from 1987 probably dont exist anymore) lol
-Dont go to the Zoo - despite the band - its just full of animals - not what you came here for!
-visit Kerry - if you have the time.
-God bless Ireland , God bless U2!!

// NERVOUS DAY AT PROJECT DUBLIN//

//DUBLIN OR BUST//

Today was a nervious day at Project Dublin. We hit a major snag today related to the tickets to get to London. This morning, MCB went to the airport to purchase the tickets for the flight. The gate agent told him that he should tear up his paper buddy pass because Delta changed the way they booked buddy passes. MCB had to register for the new system which would take 5-7 days with no garentee that he would be able to purchase a ticket in time to fly out on Tuesday, June 21.

We started looking at alternative options and nothing looked good. Seven days out and the best case senario was a Delta flight for $1000.00. Ouch!!!

After several phone calls, rejections, and dead ends MCB pulled a rabbit out of his hat. One of his fly boy friends came through and swapped buddy passes. All things are right in the world of Project Dulbin.

INSIDE CROKE PARK

Eleven days until we have this view. Our seats are in the upper right corner, we'll have shade or cover in the rain plus a view over the entire Pitch. This place will be rocking. Here's a link to the Count Down Clock.

// 2nd LEG OF TOUR STARTS 10/06/05 //

2nd LEG STARTS 10/06/05
BRUSSELS

16 days and counting for Croke Park

// AIR VERTIGO - DOWNSIZE FOR EUROPE //

U2 downsized for the European leg of the trip. link to larger pic. Also notice the U2//V2 tag at the front of the plane. Must mean the 2nd leg of the Vertigo tour. God knows what RyanAir flys. If we have seats, we'll be lucky. A friend of mine in DC says that RyanAir is more of a cattle car than Southwest.

// Should We Catch Coldplay?? //

Already have tickets to one concert, why not make it two. Tickets are still available for Coldplay on June 22, 2005.

COLDPLAY is scheduled to play Marly Park, Dublin, IE on June 22, 2005.

Gates open at 17:00 All tickets are General Admission. Tickets are $80.00 a pop.

// NOTICE PUBLISHED ON HOTEL WEBSITE //

Looks like our Irish Breakfast and room service is in jeopardy


"URGENT NOTIFICATION

Due to unforeseen circumstances the air ducts leading to our kitchens have been damaged and need urgent and immediate repair. Replacement parts have been ordered, but unfortunately they have to be specially made which will take several weeks. The contractors' responsible estimate the repair and installation will be completed before the weekend of the 18th of June 2005.

This means that our kitchen will not fully operational for the next number of weeks, with the result guests staying with us will be unable to have the benefit of a traditional cooked breakfast. However we are offering our guests an extensive buffet breakfast with juices, breads, croissants, Danish pastries, muffins, scones, fresh fruits, yogurts, cereals, muesli, and a large selection of meats and cheeses including Parma ham, smoked salmon and cheeses. (Current guests have been absolutely delighted with the spread!!)

The situation also means we will be offering a modified lunch and evening menu during this time.

We will be able to continue to offer room service from the modified lunch and evening menu, however we wont be able to offer room service breakfast during this time.

We would like to extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. "

// U2 Releases next Single - COBL //

// Next single to hit the charts- City of Blinding Lights- Check out the great live video //

// RYANAIR FLIGHTS PURCHASED //

Flights to and from Ireland aquired.

LGW TO DUB - flight #FR115 22/06/05
depart LGW @ 13:25
arrive DUB @ 14:40

(If we make first flight out of ATL we're hoping to slide onto
flight #113 departing LGW at 10:00 arriving in DUB @ 11:15)

DUB TO DSA - flight # FR1968 25/06/05
depart LGW @ 12:05
arrive DSA @ 13:00

DSA was choosen based on time of flight/cost and location.
DSA is close to MAN and 2 1/2 hour train ride to London
Flight was at a reasonable time for the night.

PROJECT DUBLIN'S TICKET FIASCO

O.K. so here's the story- Back in January MCB called SBS at 5:00am because ticketmaster.ie was giving him all kinds of problems for the pre-sale. SBS was finally able to acquire tickets and entered MCB's address for delivery. Months go by, MCB receives a fancy yellow envelope from ticktemaster.ie which clearly contains U2 tickets for June 24, 2005. MCB leaves the envelope sealed because he doesn't want the tickets to get misplaced or some else to happen.

He finally opens the tickets at the end of May only to find NO TICKETS!!!! The envelope did contain a nice letter saying the tickets were delivered to the wrong address and returned. (SBS in excitement and haste added an extra 1 to MCB's home address). Strangely enough, the letter made it to the right address.

One frantic phone call to Ticketmaster.ie and things were straightened out. Ticketmaster.ie said we could pick the tickets up at the will call window. Only problem was that MCB had torn up the credit card he purchased the tickets with.

After a few days of waiting MCB received a plain hand addressed envelop from Ireland. Enclosed were PROJECT DUBLIN'S tickets for the show on June 24th.

// $$$ Gains on EURO //

// UPDATE //: Holland voted against consitution as well. England postponed vote and Euro has fallen to 1.22 to the dollar.

Euro hits 7-month low after France's 'no' vote
Decision could make investors wary of European investments
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:04 p.m. ET May 30, 2005
PARIS - France’s resounding “no” vote to the EU constitution sent the euro currency to a seven-month low against the dollar Monday, but analysts said it could be months before investors get the full measure of the emotionally charged vote and its likely fallout.
Stock markets took the constitution’s defeat in stride, and there were few signs of the economic cataclysm doomsayers had predicted would follow a referendum defeat for Europe’s latest integration blueprint.
“It’s business as usual in practical terms,” said Lorenzo Codogno, co-head of European economics at Bank of America in London.
Investors will nevertheless be watching closely for any “change in direction in terms of the European integration project,” Codogno said. “But it’s not the kind of reaction you expect within two days — it will take probably weeks or months to assess what are the implications of this vote from a political standpoint.”
The euro fell as far as $1.2466 in afternoon European trading, its lowest level since mid-October and more than a cent below the $1.2575 it bought in New York late Friday.... Link to full story.


TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER

// Songs Played on 1st Leg //

Some one on Zootopia came up with a list of all the songs played on the first leg of the Vertigo Tour. "so here it is, the number of times songs were played on first leg (28 shows)"
Vertigo-33
City of Blinding Lights-28
Miracle Drug-28
SYCMIOYO-28
Love and Peace-28
Sunday Bloody Sunday-28
Bullet-28
RTSS-28
The Fly-28
PITNOL-28
One-28
Beautiful Day-27
Elevation-27
WHere the Streets-28
All Because of You-27
Mysterious Ways-24
Zoo Station-23
Yahweh-22
40-21
Cry/Electric Co-18
New Years Day-17
Ah Cat Dubh/Into the Heart-14
The Ocean-8
Original of the Species-8
Gloria-7
BAD-7
Until End of World-3
The Ocean/New Years Day-3
With or Without You-3
Still Havent Found-2
Party Girl-2
Out of Control-1
Wild Horses-1

PRE PARTY LOCATION

U2 Zootopian's are planning a pre party at FARRINGTON'S. Over 120 years old, referenced in some famous books. Definately something to check out.

East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.T: (+353) 1 671 5135F: (+353) 1 677 0527

// E! U2 QUIZ //

Here's a link to a "fun" U2 quiz

//DUBLIN BLOG//

Check out http://www.gridskipper.com/travel/dublin/index.php. A Blog of information on Dublin.

Including a review of a bar we just might have to check out.


"If you’re in Dublin and looking for a respectable and traditional watering hole with a stellar reputation for “trad” – that is, traditional live Irish music – avoid the overpriced and over-developed Temple Bar nightlife area. Instead, head across the Liffey to The Cobblestones, slightly off the beaten track on Smithfield Market. Get there early, as it fills up. And for good reason, says one local reviewer:
The Cobblestones in Smithfield is now fast becoming a Mecca for music fans. Starting from Thursdays running through to Saturday, this venue rocks, stomps and leaves music fans agog with the incredible live shows put on by extraordinary musicians.
If you hadn’t heard, even the non-geriatric Irish take their fiddling and boudrán-banging very seriously, which means it’s an all (drinking) ages deal. Meanwhile, The Cobblestons’ trad cred is further sealed by the fact that it doesn’t have a website. Finally, if you don’t know what a boudrán is, it’s the little drum in the pic above. According to wikipedia, there are numerous boudrán-playing styles, the most common being the “Kerry style, which uses a two-headed tipper,” which sounds like some sort of a Republican hit-job fantasy, except even more fun.
The CobblestonesNorth King StreetDublin 1Phone: +353 1 872 1799"

Third shot from the rafters.

another shot from the web cam

Here's a screen capture from a live web cam shoot of the 5/10 concert. Could have had GA tickets or great reserved seats for this concert. Oh Well.

// CROKE PARK 3 SOLD OUT //

Tickets for U2's June 27 gig at Croke Park went on sale on Saturday morning and were sold out within a few hours. Most tickets were allocated to outlets throughout Ireland, a smaller number were available via Ticketmaster.

Just as well. We'll be on our way back to the states with fond memories of U2 swimming in our head.

Just my luck. I was playing around on Ticketmaster at 11:20 pm on 5/9/05 and could have bought a set of G.A. tickets for the show on 5/10/05.

// AIR VERTIGO //

//FUCK UPS - THIS IS MCB'S NEXT GIG//

// COUNTDOWN BEGINS //

// 71 Days and Counting //

link to clock

couldn't get rid of the watermark on the photo- but liked the photo

// PROPS TO PABST //

BUT NOT ON THIS TRIP

// HINTS AT EUROPEAN TOUR STAGE //

Willies Diary includes hints that the European stage setup will be totally different than the US arena tour.

SBS & MCB driving on the coast in northern Ireland.

// Songs played to date //

Here's a list of the songs that have been played and the number of times as of 4/6/05

// DC Radio Station U2 Dublin Contest //

A local DC radio station is giving away a trip for two to Dublin and a couple of U2 concert tickets. 94.7 the arrow. My thoughts - I already got my Croke Park tickets.

// VERTIGO TOUR UNDERWAY //

The Band is mixing it up all over the west coast. 4 shows down and four different set lists. Bomb shelter and blankets of LED lights. The initial pics look fantastic.

81 days and counting until

Croke Park // Dublin // IE

// London to Dublin //

I’'ve been looking at the costs associated with taking a train and ferry from London to Dublin.

From what I’ve seen on the web, trains will cost between $80-$120 depending on which city we go out of and which class of ticket we purchase.

The ferry’s are going to be another £25.00 or more.

I think it actually might be best if we try to fly from London to Belfast. Easy Jet has 14 flights from the London Airports to Belfast on June 22. It also looks like Belfast might be the closest airport to Dublin. From what I can tell, the train ride from Belfast to Dublin is about 4 hours. I’m not sure how much the ride costs but I doesn’t look like you can even make a reservation more than two or three weeks out.

Here are some links:

Trains:
www.irishrail.ie
www.translink.co.uk

Ferries:
These are the lines that go from Liverpool or Holyhead to Dublin or Dun Laoghaire (very close to Dublin)

www.irishferries.com
www.stenaline.co.uk
www.norsemerchant.com
www.porishsea.com

Check Our Our Seats

// GET READY //

// TOUR ABOUT TO KICK OFF!!! //

They're setting up the stage in the San Diego Arena for the first concert of the Vertigo World Tour. Below are a series pics from the San Diego Arena web cam hijacked from u2.com.

they're putting it together- here is a series of shots

more

l

more

// DAILY SHOW SHOT AT BONO //

MUST WATCH LINK:
The Daily Show's BONO WEEK IN REVIEW .

// GREEN BEER ANYONE //

// HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!! //

// CROKE PARK TICKETS ARRIVING IN USA //

U2.Com Members are reporting that they have received a nice brown envelope from Ticketmaster Ireland.

// U2 Inducted into Hall of Fame //

Not a bad year for U2 so far. Three Grammy Awards, A sold out tour that had $185 Million in the bank before the third leg was added, and as of last night, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.



Link to Yahoo Video Clip // Link to Interference.com Article // Link to @U2.com Articles

THIRD LEG SELLS OUT

// THIRD LEG ADDED // THIRD LEG SOLD OUT //

Nothing like adding 33 more dates across North America and having every date sell out during the general public sale. Link to Billboard News Article. Contributors Note: a third date has not been added in D.C., the dates sold out within two hours and some scalper sites are selling killer seats for $970.00 each.

// NEW THIRD LEG TOUR DATES LEAKED //

(03-04-2005) Rumor: Third Leg Dates Leaked? -- Interference.com*
Rumor: Third Leg Dates Leaked?

Rumors are circulating from various sources that U2 will play the following North American dates during the third leg of the Vertigo Tour. No official word has come from the U2 camp as to when third leg concert and onsale dates will be announced so stay tuned to U2.com Interference.com for updates.

// October 3-4 Boston //
October 7-8, 10-11 and 14 New York City //
October 16-17 Philadelphia //
October 19-20 Washington DC //
October 22 Pittsburgh //
October 24-25 Detroit //
October 28 Houston //
October 29 Dallas //

// THIRD ACT ADDED TO 1st CROKER SHOW //

U2.com Reports Paddy Casey will join Snow Patrol as the opening acts has been added to the 24th //June // 2005 Croke Park U2 concert. As with Snow Patrol - We'll be at the Guiness tent.

// PROJECT DUBLIN RECEIVES A DONATION //

Project Dublin has received a gracious and unexpected donation. Rachel Donegan has contributed an Eyewitness Travel Guide Book on both Dublin and Ireland. Her donation was accompanied with the following wishes: “Thought anyone visiting MY homeland better do it right. Have a great time! (And figure out what makes those Orangemen so grumpy!)” SBS and MCB will make every effort to “do it right!” (assuming doing it right involves much more time in pubs than it does in museums) Thanks again.

// DO YOU HAVE TICKETS???//

Members of U2.com are reporting that they have received tickets for the June 24th Croke Park show. Ours should arrive any day!!!

// DOLLAR FALLS ON RESERVE SHIFT WORRIES //

Dollar falls below key technical support levels. $1 now ='s €1.32. Link to full article.

The real question is what do the 60/90/120 day futures markets indicate???

// PROJECT DUBLIN IMPROVEMENT //

// Contributors can now publish new posts via e-mail. It's as simple as sending an e-mail. //

/// WHAT NEXT ///

The tickets are sold out, the hotels are booking up. What next- we need to make Friday night dinner reservations. According to Interference, even the restaurants are booking up now.

/// OLDEST DUBLIN PUB ///

The Old Stand- The oldest pub in Dublin. Over 300 Years old. We just might need to stop in for a pint. http://www.theoldstandpub.com/index.html

// U2 SWEEPS 3 GRAMMYS //

U2 SWEEPS THREE GRAMMYS
February 13, 2005
posted by: m2 "Vertigo" swept all three categories in which it was nominated at tonight's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles:

- Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal
- Best Rock Song (songwriters award)
- Best Short Form Music Video

If you missed the video you can catch it at U2Exit.com

Also- The band gave a strange acceptance speech- Edge dedicated the Grammy to his daughter (who might have leukemia), Bono said he was genuinely surprised, and Larry commented on uncertainty of live performances for the rest of the year and apologizes to the fans for the problems with obtaining tickets.

Here's an interesting quote off of a link from Zootopia- Mels U2 Blog Looks like we're lucky to even have a Dublin date.

/// HOTEL UPDATE - BOOKED UP/ RATES DOUBLE///

Quoted from U2tours.com

"Dublin hotels double rates for U2 weekend

February 13, 2005

Source: Sunday Business Post

Niamh Connolly

Some Dublin hotels are more than doubling their room rates on the weekend of June 24-25, when U2 play two concerts in Croke Park. Up to 160,000 fans will attend the concerts, putting pressure on hotels in Dublin.

Many hotels contacted by The Sunday Business Post this weekend were already booked out.

The three-star Regency Hotel close to Dublin Airport is charging EU300 per room and is already booked out with four months to go. The standard rate quoted was EU130 per room for a Saturday night.

The three-star Ashling Hotel on the quays in the city centre, which is also fully booked, is charging EU240 per night, almost twice the hotel's regular room rate at the weekend.

A hotel website was charging EU476 for the two nights at the Academy Hotel off O'Connell Street, compared to the standard rate of EU318 for two nights. Bewleys hotels charge a flat rate of EU99 per room. The six Jury's Inns, which are also booked out, maintained their standard rate of EU130 per room.

John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, said that “everywhere in the world where you have fairs or sports events and concerts you will have pressure on hotel rooms, and this can lead to increased rates. That's the operation of the free market.”

© Sunday Business Post, 2005."

// CROKE PARK WAS LOCATION OF SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY ///

Interesting fact regarding SUnday Bloody Sunday.

"Read any Irish textbook and you will no doubt read about the events that set the stage to one of U2's most political songs. In 1921, the counter intelligence of the original Irish Republic Army discovered the identities of British agents who had methodically killed members of Sinn Fein. The IRA broke into the houses of the spies and assassinated them in their beds. In retaliation, The British sent its ruthless police force known as the Black and Tans to Croke Park where they opened fire on the crowd attending a football match there. Twelve men and women were shot dead and 60 others were wounded. It became known as Bloody Sunday. This event was echoed in 1972 when the Paratroop Regiment of the British Army opened fire during a civil rights demonstration in Derry and killed 14 unarmed people, wounding another 14. The anger and disbelief in Ireland was ripe. The violence in Northern Ireland escalated and throughout the decade and into the next, the Dubliners became desensitized to the violence. Bono felt that the Irish couldn't afford to forget nor should they want to.

SBS has become a staple of live shows, and in early performances Bono declares, "This is not a rebel song", meaning that the lyrics could not be taken as support for the Republican cause. It is an emotional response to appalling political reality."

/// TICKETS IN HAND??///

Some people have received their Croke Park Tickets. It looks like we'll have to wait a bit. Ticketmaster.ie won't send out the Pre-Sale tickets until U2.com gives the go ahead because of all the pre-sale crap. http://www.u2.com/bbs/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=207272&an=0&page=6#207272