30/5/15 Hozier pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

30/5/15 Hozier pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

30/5/15 Concert goers pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

30/5/15 Andressa Dallo and Aline Rocha, Brazil pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

30/5/15 Concert goers pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

30/5/15 Concert goers pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

30/5/15 Hozier pictured at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Picture: Arthur Carron

Rain has failed to dampen the spirits of the thousand of revellers who were chanting along with Hozier on stage at Slane.

Bray man Hozier took to the stage shortly after 4.30pm, and has sang some firm favourites from his repertoire, including 'Angel of Death and the Codeine Scene'.

And as he started to sing, drops of rain broke through the clouds.

When he arrived backstage, he was flanked by the proudest man on the grounds, his father.

The singer was mobbed by fans and posed for selfies, telling Independent.ie that he had a great time on stage.

There is a strong security presence on the site and Gardai last week outined their strict security plan for the event.

The Strypes opened the show and they were followed by Ash.

Amongst the throngs of drowned of fans was Lucy Wood, who said "We are having a fantastic time, the weather is a little bit wet but we are in high spirits."

Her friend Sally Harding added "the atmosphere is absolutely brilliant".

"We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves, it's a fantastic day and the music is absolutely brilliant."

Thousands of revellers are arriving in his back garden in Slane Castle for the concert of the year.

Teenage bluesy four-piece outfit 'The Strypes' from Co Cavan have the unenviable task of opening today's proceedings.

This is the 25th Slane concert and the man at the helm of it all over the last three decades is Lord Henry Mountcharles.

He told Independent.ie last night that he had "a great sense of anticipation". "This is a really phemonemal bill.

“Foo Fighters are a seminal band, the same would apply to Dave Grohl, the guy who started off as the drummer in Nirvana.

“Kaiser Chiefs are again a great live band and Ash who understand Slane, have played there, and Hozier is a phenomenon.

He said “it is really exciting" that there is a strong Irish contingent on this weekend's bill, adding: "I very much wanted that".

"A great deal of thought has gone into this bill and then as far as the setup, that’s going extremely well,

“The site is in terrific condition and at this stage to be honest, I am praying for the weather."

Online Editors