The countdown to this weekend's U2 return to Dublin is almost over.
Hundreds of fans from around the world braved the overnight rain at Croke Park where the band will play three concerts over the next four nights.
Bus Éireann has announced additional bus services to ferry U2 fans to the band's gigs at Croke Park tonight, tomorrow and on Monday.
Special buses will be in operation serving the following areas: Dundalk, Drogheda, Naas, Newbridge, Kildare, Ashford, Rathnew, Wicklow, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Waterford.
Dundalk and Drogheda buses will operate to and from the venue. Buses will depart Dundalk bus station at 2pm and Drogheda at 3pm. Return services depart from gate 16, Busáras, at midnight.Advance booking is advised. Fares cost up to €20.
Tonight's event is one of three concerts over the weekend, in front of 80,000 people, which sold out within hours of the tickets going on sale. Gardaí are closing the roads around the stadium this morning and doors are due to open at 4pm.
U2 manager Paul McGuinness said the band were apprehensive but very confident about playing in their home city.
“Playing Dublin is always extra excitement, extra pressure,” he said.
“It's great to be playing this magnificent stadium,” he added. The band's manager said around half the songs U2 played would come from their last two albums while the rest would be the “classics”, with the play-list changing every night.
As well as Ireland 's most famous rock band, fans will get to see Snow Patrol and The Radiators on Friday night, The Thrills and Paddy Casey on Saturday, and Ash and The Bravery on Monday.
The production team for the Vertigo tour have been hard at work for days, erecting the stage at the Hill 16 end of the stadium and setting up the lighting and sound rigs.
The 28 metre-high stage, which had arrived in dozens of trucks, had to be specially adapted for the requirements of the GAA stadium and took three days to build, the Vertigo tour's production director Jake Berry said.
But Mr Berry said despite the special adjustments there was never any question they wouldn't play at Croke Park. “It's fabulous, how can we not be here ?” he said.