20 December 2009: Paul McCartney live at The o2, Dublin

Paul McCartney performed at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, on 20 December 2009.

It was the penultimate show of the Good Evening Europe Tour, which lasted for eight dates in December 2009. This show was seen by 9,500 fans.

McCartney’s previous concert in Ireland was in May 2003, his first in the republic since he played with The Beatles in November 1963 (they also played Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1963 and 1964).

During the show, McCartney introduced George Harrison’s ‘Something’ with a short version of George Formby’s ‘Leaning On A Lamp-post’, with the Dublin audience singing along.

Prior to singing the 1973 Wings song ‘My Love’, McCartney told the crowd that the guitarist on the original recording, Henry McCullough, was in the audience. The spotlight shone on the balcony, where McCullough took a bow.

It’s been 36 years and both myself and Paul have tramped a few roads since then, but it will be great to see him again. I want to shake Paul’s hand and give him a hug. This meeting is something that has to be done and what better place to do it than in Ireland?

Henry McCullough
Independent.ie, 19 December 2009

As with his previous recent shows in Cologne, McCartney added the 1979 festive hit ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ to the set. In Dublin the song was part of the main set rather than an encore.

Here’s his version of ‘Helter Skelter’ from the concert:

McCartney’s band was Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens (vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica), Brian Ray (vocals, guitar, bass), Rusty Anderson (vocals, guitar), and Abe Laboriel Jr (vocals, drums).