Six things we learned during Zach Bryan's first night in Cork, from surprise guests to traffic
Zach Bryan playing at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, on Saturday night. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare
Zach Bryan was showing a lot of love for the Cork crowd on Saturday night. If there were drinking games being played, a dangerous one would be to take a shot each time he said “thank you”, or “I trust you”, or “I love you”.
He has played Ireland a few times before: 100,000 people saw him last year over two nights in Dublin, and back in 2023, he played his first Irish gigs at The Helix.
In Cork, he quickly fell for the Rebel County, saying to huge cheers: “I gotta fucking move to Cork, guys.” No doubt that outpouring of love will be strong on Sunday night too.
On Saturday night, Bryan did not bring out any surprise guests during his show — despite teasing the crowd by mentioning previous on-stage collaborations. He name-dropped Dermot Kennedy, who sang with him in Phoenix Park as well as in Hyde Park, and as the crowd started to become excited, he dampened their enthusiasm by stating there was no surprise to come that night.
It seemed like a missed opportunity to showcase a local act, at the very least, if not a big-name star, as he has in the past.
If you picture a typical country music fan’s attire, you’re probably thinking bootcut jeans, a plaid shirt, brown boots and a hat. While there was a smattering of that style on the crowd at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, the much younger crowd that dominated the stadium had their own twist on the look.
Young girls opted for mini skirts and micro shorts with midriff-baring tops, accessories with colourful cowboy hats and stylish cowboy boots — though given the amount of young fans limping back to the city post gig in just their socks, those boots may have needed a bit more breaking in.
The young men at the gig varied between county attire and more typical shorts and shirts, indicating just how mainstream Bryan’s music is in Ireland among Gen Z fans.
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Speaking of how young the crowd was, there was an air of post-Leaving Cert celebration from many and given their newly-adult status, it seemed like the combination of alcohol inexperience and the hot summer sun's dehydrating effects meant many had one or two drinks too many.
Close to the end of the gig, from our view in the stands, we could see security and medics tending to many young fans who had started to fade, whether from standing in the heat or overindulging.
One lesson we can pass on for Sunday night: if you’re having a few drinks, please pace yourself, add some water and food, and don’t be afraid to say no or ask for help if you feel like you’ve reached your limit.
No one who’s been to a gig or a match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh before was surprised by the queues of traffic making their way through the city before the gig and after, though with so many coming from beyond Cork, it may have seemed concerning for gig-goers worried they could arrive late.
Gates open at 5pm, and while the support acts played from around 6pm onwards, Bryan himself was not on stage until 8.20pm, so there’s plenty of time to make it in time for the main act.
You would wonder if the proposed Cork Luas could ease that congestion by ferrying ticket-holders in and out of the stadium, reducing the need for a long walk to a car pick-up.
While not specifically part of the Páirc Uí Chaoimh offering, it would be remiss not to mention the nearby Marina Market, where many fans made a pitstop for some pre-show dinner. If the food hall is part of your plan, get there early. Late yesterday evening, there were long queues and long waits for food, so make sure you’re giving yourself plenty of time so you don’t feel under pressure to wolf down your food and run to the show.
