The timeline of my trip to Ireland via Canada started to form when I bought a ticket to see Hozier in concert at Marlay Park in Dublin. From there, I worked out my travels through Canada to get me to Ireland’s capital by July 5th, 2024. I planned to arrive in the city six days prior to the concert, so I would have a few day’s grace if my flight was delayed leaving Toronto.
I was delighted to discover that Lord Huron, one of my favourite bands, had been added to the bill as Hozier’s support act. I had seen Lord Huron perform a few months earlier back home in Brisbane, Australia, and was so excited to be seeing them again.
It was a beautifully ironic circumstance that I would see Lord Huron and Hozier perform on the same bill. I discovered Lord Huron while listening to the Hozier Radio channel on Spotify, which featured their most popular song ‘The Night We Met’. I instantly fell in love with the song. It hit a nerve at a particularly vulnerable time in my life, bringing back memories and triggering emotions. I couldn’t listen to it for the first ten times without ugly crying. Listening to their extended catalogue, I came to love several of their other songs too.
When I arrived at Marlay Park, I queued up to have my bags checked by security. In my bag was a Snugglepot and Cuddlepie patterned umbrella gifted to me by my best friend Meg before I left Australia. I hadn’t meant to bring it, but had completely forgotten that it was in my bag. The bag checker wouldn’t let me in with it, and my heart sank at the thought of having to surrender it.
I started walking back toward the carpark to try to hide it somewhere I could collect it later. Another event staff member called me over and asked if I needed help. I choked up as I explained the situation- I’d already misplaced several items during my travels, and to have to lose this precious gift from Meg was incredibly distressing. The staff member introduced herself as Sinead, and calmly offered to hold onto the umbrella for me until the end of the night. I returned to security and noticed a sign that showed the items that were allowed into the event, which stated small umbrellas were indeed allowed. I returned to Sinead, retrieved the umbrella, and joined a different queue. The new bag checker didn’t address the umbrella, so I took it through.
I squeezed myself into a space on the outer edge of the barrier ready for Lord Huron. My heart lept with excitement as they took to the stage, and over the next hour I sang and danced to my favourite songs all over again.
After Lord Huron and before Hozier, I set out to buy some food. I ate a burger and a cider and then returned to the same spot on the barrier for Hozier. He took to the stage at 8pm in all his elf man rock and roll glory. Hozier hails from Wicklow, a short drive from Dublin, and there was something incredibly special about seeing him perform on his home turf.
Attending this recent was a milestone of sorts. Months earlier, booking tickets to this concert had marked the beginning of my journey plans, and being there that night felt like the completion of a goal. I had made it to Ireland. Now it was time for the next chapter.
Hozier’s set ended and the crowd started making their way out of Marlay Park. Event staff members were perched above us on elevated platforms guided us safely to the exit, speaking into megaphones repeating their directions and thanking us for our attendance. One staff member gave a comical rendition of Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’ through his megaphone, and we all laughed as we passed underneath him. I passed Sinead again and stopped to thank her for her help earlier. Her assistance had warmed my heart, and reminded me that I was not alone.
Kate Kelsen 