Taylor Swift mania takes over Ireland as Eras Tour kicks off with first of three sold out Aviva Stadium shows

Taylor Swift fever reached an all-time high on Friday night as the global megastar returned to Ireland for her first gig in six years.

The buzz around her Dublin arrival was unmatched, with fans eagerly anticipating her three-night stint this weekend. The Aviva Stadium was swarming with nearly 55,000 Swifties, many of whom had splashed out a pretty penny, long before the show kicked off.

Decked out in pink cowboy hats, glittering jackets, and Taylor-inspired outfits, the crowd's excitement was palpable. And when the 34 year old songstress stepped onto the stage for the latest stop on her Eras Tour, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric.

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Kicking off with 'Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince' from her 2019 'Lover' album, Taylor was a powerhouse performer throughout the nearly three-and-a-half-hour set.

"Dublin, that was amazing, I think it is gone straight to my head, you guys are making me feel like I'm playing a sold-out show in the Aviva on a Friday night," she told the adoring crowd, visibly moved by their response, before diving into 'The Man', reports the Irish Mirror.

She continued with heartfelt enthusiasm: "It is such an honour and a thrill to say Dublin, welcome to the Eras Tour. You guys are the best, you know that right? Not only do you know the lyrics, you are screaming all the lyrics. You are amazing."

Taylor effortlessly transitioned between albums, equally at ease performing pop hits like Cruel Summer and You Need To Calm Down as she was delivering emotional break up ballads and the sharp lyrics of Reputation.

During the energetic performance of We Are Never Getting Back Together, one of her backing vocalists won over the Irish crowd by shouting pog mo thoin, receiving thunderous applause. Later, Taylor commended the Irish for their storytelling prowess, attributing it half to the stories themselves and half to their charming accents.

The profound cultural influence on Swift's fans meant that just a few notes from each song in the extensive setlist triggered deafening cheers of recognition and often tears of joy.

The dreamy, introspective folk allure of her 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore (co-produced by The National's Aaron Dressner) brought a significant shift in the musical atmosphere before fans indulged in the nostalgic tunes of her breakthrough album 1989, with massive hits such as Shake it Off and Style.

The monumental and record-breaking Eras global tour, known as the €2billion tour, kicked off in Phoenix, Arizona last March, and recently its setlist has grown to include seven new songs from her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

New tracks like Fortnight, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart and The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived were a huge hit at the Aviva, despite only being released in April this year.

The visual effects throughout the evening take stadium show production to a new level, from the flame towers during Bad Blood, the cabin during the Folklore section and the snake imagery in Reputation.

Taylor, who last performed in Ireland at Croke Park on her 2018 Reputation Tour, has sold more than 180 million records worldwide and has put on more than 100 Eras tour concerts already.

I counted well over a dozen costume changes at the Aviva and the constantly changing wardrobe and show banter has meant that each night is an event in its own right for the adoring hordes of supporters.

The average fan at her Irish concert on Friday night was estimated to have spent at least close to €1,000 on tickets, travel, accommodation, outfits and merchandise. Those euphoric fans add another dimension to this deafening pop spectacle - I've rarely seen such energy at an outdoor concert.

As the night drew to a close in the Aviva, the crowd were treated to a couple of surprise songs before a climax culled from the impressive concept album Midnights. Taylor will be back at the Aviva tonight and tomorrow to play to 100,000 more fans, who based on the first night will enjoy an at times unbelievable experience filled with hours of joyous singing and dancing.

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