Lady Gaga’s ‘Little Monsters’ brave the rain in Dublin

Popular Amercan singer dazzles in pink polka dot squid outfit with giant tentacles

Niamh Buck (left), Maria O’Grady with her daughter Amber (far right) at the Lady Gaga concert at the 3arena in Dublin last night. Photograph: Neil Coles
Niamh Buck (left), Maria O’Grady with her daughter Amber (far right) at the Lady Gaga concert at the 3arena in Dublin last night. Photograph: Neil Coles

Bad weather did nothing to deter Lady Gaga’s hordes of fans dubbed “Little Monsters” from donning wacky and weird outfits in Dublin last night.

Lady Gaga made a theatrical entrance to the screams of her audience in a gold glitter body suit and giant furry wings with a troupe of more than 10 scantily clad dancers and a band in the background.

The flamboyant singer changed costumes non-stop through the night, from a pink polka dot squid outfit with giant tentacles, large and coloured wigs,and an array of PVC and jewelled g-strings and bikinis.

Oversized multi-coloured bouncy balls hopped around the edge of the stage as she furiously danced and sang around the 3 Arena (formerly the O2, formerly the Point) stage and fans jumped up and down to the music.

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Gaga slid across the stage, headbanged to guitar pieces and lay down over the stage to touch the hands of fans up front.

The stadium went quiet as the singer impressed the crowd into silence as she belted out ballads alone on stage while playing the piano.

Teenager Amber O’Grady said she could not “sleep a wink” in the nights leading to seeing the singer in concert for the first time.

“It was phenomenal. She is so talented and amazing. I can’t stop shaking. It’s the best night of my life,” she said.

The 14-year-old from Waterford said she was eight-years-old when she first became a fan of the singer and it was her dream to meet her ever since.

Amber could not hold back the tears as she described the influence Gaga has had on her life.

“She’s so inspirational. She has taught me that it’s ok to be me – to be different. And to not care what other people think of me,” she said.

Amber’s mother, Maria O’ Grady, gave her daughter a hug as emotion overwhelmed the teenager after the show.

“Her dream was realised seeing Gaga tonight,” she said.

Ms O’ Grady said the night had been great fun and she was impressed with the singer’s vocals.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it actually was,” she said.

“I’m almost in my fifties and I started pushing my way to the stage like a 16-year-old. And I don’t normally even like being in crowds. It was great,” she said.

Niamh Buck (14), also from Waterford, said she would never forget seeing Lady Gaga for the first time.

“That concert was beyond description. I have no words for it,” she said.

Inbetween songs, Lady Gaga spoke about individuality and creative freedom.

“Tonight we come here in the spirit of creative f*cking freedom,” she said.

“We will shout from the rooftops Ido not need a label, I do not need a manager, I do not need an agency or a contract to make me an artist. I am one.”

“As I sing to you I will imagine all of your great futures.”

Lady Gaga returned to Ireland last night as part of her "Artpop Ball" tour.

She has been touring since May promoting her latest album Artpop, which has not sold as well as her other albums, and played in Birmingham earlier this week.

She sang a mix of songs from the album including Do What U Want and Dope and injected elements of rock and jazz into her performances through the night.

Performing Bang Bang (My baby shot you down) she spoke of her upcoming album with Tony Bennett.

But to the delight of the audience, she also rocked out fan favourites including Poker Face, Bad Romance and Just Dance.

Fans from across Europe had flown into the Dublin to see Gaga perform.

Darryl Huckstep, who lives in London, said she was worried about making the show after four delays with her flight.

“I missed my first wedding anniversary to be here,” she said.

The Dublin native said she had been a fan of the singer since the very beginning of her career.

“She speaks to everybody. She’s on our level and tells it how it is,” she said.

Ms Huckstep’s friend, Lisa Morris from Dublin, said she was surprised by the singer’s honesty when she spoke.

“It’s the first time I’d seen her. I’d come here expecting nothing but she was just brilliant,” she said.

Rachel Flaherty

Rachel Flaherty

Rachel Flaherty is Digital Features Editor and journalist with The Irish Times