Madonna ‘should not be performing on Lord’s Day’

SHE may call herself Madonna, but in the eyes of the Lord, she’s not the real thing.

Neither should she be performing on the Lord’s Day, according to Fr Joe Deegan, local priest in Slane.

Even his love of rock has not overcome his concerns that concert-goers will create difficulties for the 600 parishioners who regularly attend Sunday Masses at his church. For the first time in 20 years, the Slane Castle outdoor gig has been moved from its traditional Saturday slot to Sunday, to facilitate the pop icon’s busy tour schedule.

Fr Deegan said it will mean the village will have to be cordoned off the night before.

“It will make it awkward for local people to go to Mass. There are also certain fears that people will be hanging around for the Monday, which is a bank holiday in the North,” he said.

When Bob Dylan played in Slane Castle on a Sunday in 1984, there were riots in the village. Fr Deegan, from Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, said people had long memories and feared that this might occur again.

But despite his concerns, as a music fan he fully intends going to see Madonna. Locals may apply for a court injunction to stop the Sunday concert.

They also claim there is an agreement dating back to 1985 that a concert would never be held on a Sunday.

Slane Castle owner Lord Henry Mountcharles said the starting time of the gig had been moved back from 12pm to 2pm to facilitate Mass-goers.

Promoters MCD are due to apply to Meath County Council shortly for a licence for the gig.