Shania rocks as girl power proves a hit with 20,000 enthralled fans

GIRL POWER reigned supreme as an all female line-up, headed by Shania Twain, rocked the Marble City over the weekend.

The woman who shattered record sales with hits such as That Don't Impress Me Much, was well impressed with the reception she got as she enthralled the 20,000, mostly female, fans in Kilkenny's Nolan Park.

However, Girls Aloud failed to impress and many stayed in their seats for the performance. They flew in from 02 in the Park gig for a brief appearance.

It was left to a class act like Chrissie Hynde and her band, the Pretenders, to get the crowd going.

Proud of her size six figure, Hynde boasted that anyone who wants to know how she maintains such a slim physique should meet her back stage.

It was Twain's first live performance in two years but she showed no nerves. She bounded out on stage and launched straight into one of her greatest hits Man, I Feel Like A Woman!

The petite star sparkled in her black sequin trousers, sleeveless black top and striped tie.

Donna Murphy, 25, and sister Amy, 18, who travelled from Blackrock, Co Cork, to be at the concert were very much impressed with the night's entertainment.

"Chrissie and the Pretenders were fantastic. Really great. But Shania Twain rocks," Donna said.

Meanwhile Samantha Mumba, and Eurovision star Mickey Harte and Relish belted out the tunes to fans in the Phoenix Park on Saturday afternoon.

You're a Star runner-up Simon Casey who led a rousing rendition of Ireland's Call said: "It was a great day out for everyone, there was a really good buzz throughout the day."