U2 fans move in mysterious ways. The first devotee began queuing at lunchtime on Friday outside HMV on Grafton Street, where the band's new "best of" album went on sale at midnight last night.
Martin Shanahan, originally from Bantry, Co Cork but now living in London, claims he has been first in the queue to purchase new U2 offerings for 11 years running.
Until now. The second-hand record store owner spent Friday and much of Saturday night sleeping rough outside the store. But after being rained on in the early hours of Saturday morning, he gave himself a break for a change of clothes and a rejuvanating stroll.
When he came back, two other equally dedicated U2 fans had taken up position outside the door and were declared by the store management to be number one and number two in the line.
Mr Shanahan, who has seen the band 400 times in 24 years and travelled from the UK for the occasion, didn't seem too put out at his demotion to the U3 position. "I'm here for the music," he said. "I've known those two guys since Achtung Baby. They are not talking to me. You can't force people to sit with you".
On the other side of the doorway, U1 and U2 sat waiting patiently on fold-up chairs. Dubliners Vincent Kearns (35) and Dave Farrell (42) were reluctant to talk about the battle of the fans, just confirming that they were the people at the top of the queue.
"It's about the buzz of being first," said Mr Kearns. "The first to get your hands on the album."