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The card sent to Taylor Swift by U2. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift shares image of welcome flowers from U2 ahead of her first sold out Irish show

The pop star is here for a run of three sold out shows.

LAST UPDATE | 28 Jun 2024

INTERNATIONAL POP SENSATION Taylor Swift has shared a picture of flowers and a welcome message from U2, ahead of her first sold out performance in Dublin tonight.

Swift shared an image of flowers and a card from the Irish rockers on her Instagram page. The message on the card reads:

“Dear Taylor. Welcome back to our hometown. Leave some of it standing?!!!! Your Irish fan club, Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry.”

Swift is set to take to the stage soon on the first night of her record-breaking Eras Tour. She will play three sold gigs in the Aviva Stadium.

Fans have been queueing from the early hours to get into the stadium as Swift mania takes over the country, with everybody – from U2 to Taoiseach Simon Harris – trying to bask in the megastar’s reflective glow.

682Taylor Swift Fans_90708302 Fans ahead of tonight's concert. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

 Plane arrives 

Earlier, 17-year-old aviation journalist Shaun Dunne tweeted that Swift’s jet had arrived early this afternoon. 

PA reports that businesses surrounding the stadium have embraced the Taylor-mania, with The Bridge Pub – self-dubbed ‘the home of rugby’ – announcing a list of album-themed cocktails to mark the blockbuster shows.

Elsewhere in Dublin, businesses have gotten into the spirit with Taylor Swift-themed brunches, bracelet-making classes, quizzes, and spin classes featuring her music.

On Thursday, Irish Swifties queued up to buy jumpers, hoodies and t-shirts at Dublin’s 3Arena stadium.

664Taylor Swift Merchandise_90708255 Taylor Swift merchandise for sale on Middle Abbey Street for tonight's concert. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

Children and adults alike were seen sporting handmade friendship bracelets, a colourful feature of the Swiftie fandom. The musician is expected to take to the stage from 7pm and perform for around three-and-a-half hours.

Swift’s blockbuster show is expected to boost businesses in the cities she performs in, a phenomenon which also happened during Beyonce’s Renaissance tour as it pulls masses of tourists to regions.

The concert is one of several cultural events on in Dublin this weekend, described by a deputy commissioner of Ireland’s police force as a “jam-packed” three days.

686Taylor Swift Fans_90708305 Taylor Swift fans Emma O Connor and Tara Staunton from Galway getting ready for tonight's concert. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

Taoiseach joke 

Earlier, Taoiseach Simon Harris refused to be drawn today when asked if he is a “Swiftie” and instead said he has a “bone to pick” with the international pop star. 

“We’re delighted to have her here in Ireland but she did take a pebble from the beach in Greystones, she sings about it in ‘Sweet Nothing’.

“Greystones being my hometown, so I am very pleased that Taylor enjoys Wicklow but I do want my pebble back,” the Taoiseach said.

He jokingly added: “She can keep it, but I’d like to know a little bit more about it.”

“She does ponder in the song, does the pebble ever miss Wicklow? Sure everyone would miss Wicklow, wouldn’t they.

“She’s very welcome back to county Wicklow anytime. I’m not sure whether she’ll have time to visit this time, but she is very welcome and I’d be delighted to show her the location of many more pebbles that we have in the beautiful town of Greystones,” the Taoiseach said. 

He continued: “On a serious level, while I won’t be going – I don’t have a ticket, I am really conscious that actually it’s a moment of great excitement for many, many, many people right across our country.”

Great weekend for Dublin

Harris said this weekend is going to be a great weekend for Dublin between the various events happening in the capital including all four quarter-finals of the GAA senior football championship, Longitude festival, the Shania Twain concert and Pride Festival. 

“There’s a lot of really exciting events happening and I’m hoping that it’s going to be a really good weekend that people can enjoy, can celebrate and of course can stay safe as well. So I hope people have really good weekend,” he said.

With reporting from PA and Cormac Fitzgerald

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    Mute Brian Waldron
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    Jun 7th 2020, 10:44 AM

    Tracy I also do career coaching and I think you have offered some very useful tips for people in your article. I wish you well in your new venture which I’m sure will be a great success.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Brian Waldron: i admire the energy and self belief to start a new venture and believe many can benefit from career coaching. Kids should taught a lot of this in school.

    But the advice in this article is facile and uninteresting. Dress for an interview? Take three deep breaths?

    At the end of it all there are a handful of pretty self evident interview tips (which I wouldn’t consider strictly speaking to be career advice) and three dull unhelpful tips on starting your own business.

    This was a huge opportunity to get her brand and business in front of a readership. Opportunity wasted.

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    Mute Brian Waldron
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Shazam37: unfortunately the school system in general is bereft of many key life skills, such as preparing for the work environment, communication skills, handling adversity, developing resilience and generally building character and confidence. Whilst parents can only do so much, there is a gap.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Shazam37: How can people get paid for offering such bland and uninspiring advice?
    Why would anyone pay for “career coaching” when one can read good interview tips straight off HR based websites for FREE?

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:03 PM

    @Brian Waldron: Those gaps are filled in with a thing called “experience” Brian.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:00 PM

    @David Corrigan: well I’m assuming the advice is better when she’s doing a session.

    Lazy effort here Though

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:22 PM

    @David Corrigan: she’s hardly going to destroy her business by giving all of her best tips out here for free.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Joe: I didn’t ask the lady to do that. I am just surprised that people pay for something that one can get for free. You always seem to get bogged down in little irrelevant things Joe.

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    Mute Shimo Tbay
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:02 AM

    If you have a complete “C U next tuesday” for a boss there is no coaching that can fix that. People don’t leave bad jobs they leave bad bosses. Do yourself a favour don’t be miserable, move on.

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:35 AM

    @Shimo Tbay: Well they do leave bad jobs but I totally get what your saying.

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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @Shimo Tbay: Female bosses (usually single and childless) in their 40s, 50s, are the worst in my experience of bully bosses.

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Jun 7th 2020, 6:24 PM

    @Shimo Tbay: I have a really sound boss in my job which I started 7 months ago. It’s the first time after 20 odd years working that I find myself in this case where I really respect the person that Is my manager. It’s life changing.

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Jun 7th 2020, 10:43 AM

    Career coach?

    Really?

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Dara O’Brien: yeah it’s for people who want to push on to the next level and increase their worth!

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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Joe: if you need a career coach to get to the next level then maybe you’re already at the level you should be at

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:44 AM

    @JimmyMc: or perhaps something less idiotic Jimmy?

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:28 PM

    @JimmyMc: “we hope to give them options they didn’t realise they have”.
    It’s about opening your mind and not getting stuck in a rut. Sometimes to move on and progress you need an independent voice to help you take that leap. If you can’t see that I would suggest it’s you who has reached their level.
    The ones with the open minds and flexibility will move onwards and upwards leaving you in their dust trail.

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    Mute Greg Dalton
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    Jun 7th 2020, 2:19 PM

    Tracy,
    I too have been a career coach for some 15 years. You offer some good tips. People often ask me why we need a ‘career coach’? If you liken it to a sports coach; a career coach looks at the years ahead and develops a strategy with their clients where they achieve their career targets and goals using a challenging and rewarding approach, similar to those of an athletic or team focusing on seasons or competitions ahead.
    Best wishes for your career.
    Greg Dalton

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:20 PM

    Does Tracey have any advice on how to deal with the discriminatory recruitment practices that are used by employers?

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    Mute levente
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    Jun 7th 2020, 3:12 PM

    Great Article !I would love to add you on LinkedIn. Do not listen to the these professional moaners , they are kind of bubble wrapped snobs . Good luck with your business ,we need more coaches like yourself, and a psychologist for the non believers !

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    Mute lisa duignan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:18 PM

    I think good career counselling is badly needed in secondary schools. Consider getting qualified for this. The pay is good and these jobs are very often filled by unsuitable people.

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