1979-07-12

McGonagles, Dublin, Ireland

Set List of Show:

Additional Music

Snippets of Other Songs Performed by U2:

Show Details:

After the initial run of successful shows called “Jingle Balls” in June, U2 extend their residency into July as well. Initially they are due to just play the first two shows in July, but they eventually sign up for all of the Thursday shows at the venue. Little is known about the show. The set list is unknown.

Joe Breen of The Irish Times reviews the show in his July 16 column, “Away from the land of Skylab to the more mundane atmosphere of Dublin’s McGonagles, where last Thursday, U2 played the final gig of their short residency there. I had not seen this promising young Dublin band for a while and I was impressed by their increased confidence and tighter playing. However, some of their material still needs more compact presentation and maybe a little less affection would strengthen their strong punchy songs.”

U2 played McGonagles a number of times in the late 1970s. The venue, located at 21A South Anne Street, started hosting concerts in 1978 and continued to do so until 1992. Prior to that, it was known as The Crystal Ballroom. Bono’s parents, Iris and Bob would often go dancing at The Crystal Ballroom and Bono would later write about the venue in “The Crystal Ballroom”: “My mother died when she was at her father’s funeral. I was only 14. And in this song I am singing, ‘Everyone is here tonight, everyone but you.’ And it’s me wanting to see my mother dance again in the Crystal Ballroom and for her to see what happened to her son.” On July 1, 2018, Bono remembered from stage that U2 had played McGonagles 29 times in their career. That night was their 30th performance at Madison Square Garden, making it U2’s most played venue, but up until that point, McGonagles appears to have been the most played.

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Officially Released Tracks

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