U2 hopeful about a second Slane Castle gig

U2 are hopeful they will be allowed to stage a second Slane Castle concert in August.

All 80,000 tickets for the original date sold out within 45 minutes.

Arrangements for a second concert at Slane are reported to be well under way.

Slane Castle's owner Lord Mount Charles has discussed a second show with promoters MCD and also consulted locals in the Co Meath village, the official U2.COM website reports.

A draft of the licensing legislation needed to stage the second Slane gig is already under consultation and set for passage through the Irish Parliament "within weeks".

Lord Mount Charles - who will be attending the Elevation 2001 tour's opening gig in Miami at the weekend - said: "It is my understanding the legislation will be processed more rapidly than we thought and a draft has already emanated. I've been talking specifically about it with my colleagues in MCD.

"When the legislation is in place we will be in a position to apply to the local authority, which would make Slane 2 a possibility."

The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, has pledged to fast-track legislation to grant a licence for a second concert, in response to overwhelming public demand.