Gray kicks off festival with open air concert

‘BE MINE’, says the David Gray hit, and so were 26,000 fans who clapped and sang along with the singer songwriter at an open air concert in Killarney, on Saturday night.

Sober and easy, his steady rhythm beat out over Fitzgerald Stadium.

After a quiet start, the concert eventually hit its high points when he sang his best-known songs.

And he certainly struck the right notes with a spirited rendering of Whiskey in the Jar which brought everyone to their feet.

Overall, the concert, which attracted a mature type of crowd ranging in age from the twenties to the fifties, was more laid back than electrifying.

But, fans were happy after Gray performed for more than two and half hours, as were hoteliers, publicans, restaurant owners and B+B operators who are singing all the way to the bank today.

Large crowds flocked into Kerry, leading to huge demand for accommodation, and the weekend was reckoned to be worth around €3m, giving a dream start to SummerFest.

A festive atmosphere built up in Killarney from mid-afternoon, on Saturday.

Pubs were packed, with drinkers spilling on to the streets as fans made their way to the stadium.

There were traffic tailbacks on all approaches to the town, some for up to two miles.

In the stadium, the stand was full but the majority of the audience stood on the pitch which was covered with plastic lining.

They got into the swing of things when Gray sang The Other Side. Soon, he had them Sailing Away with him, rising to a crescendo with Please Forgive Me.

A tanker of Bud must have been consumed during the balmy, thirsty evening, as eight, long queues continuously formed outside a massive beer tent which had over 40 taps. The beer cost a handy €5 a pop.

Gardaí in Killarney reported a relatively-trouble weekend.