The Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, are set to reunite and bring their band Oasis back to the stage after a hiatus of more than 15 years. Next summer, a series of shows will occur, commencing with performances at Croke Park in Dublin, due on 16th and 17th of August, 2025. This joy-inducing reunion has brought delight to their mother’s birthplace, Charlestown in Co Mayo.
The Gallagher brothers will not only play in Dublin but will also perform in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. Bookings open to the public for the Dublin shows on the forthcoming Saturday, August 31st, available from 8 in the morning.
The much-anticipated reunion is a significant event as the once inseparable brothers went separate ways in 2009 due to sharp differences, leading to the dissolution of Oasis, which had produced chart-topping music. Despite their public disagreements and avowals never to perform together again, this fracture seems to be mending.
Music journalist Eamonn Sweeney points to a potential softening of their rivalry in the past year. Financial advantages might also contribute to their decision to reunite. The Gallagher brothers have also been involved in solo projects during their split. However, all indications hint at a big announcement on Tuesday, August 27th, which could possibly announce more Irish concert dates.
Residents of Charlestown, especially John Casey, a local shop owner, are thrilled by this development. This reunion has sparked a sense of wild excitement among Oasis fans, hoping for a recapture of their former glory days, from ‘Wonderwall’ to ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.
Since the idyllic summers of the 1980s, Mr Casey has maintained a cordial friendship with the Gallagher brothers, a bond that began when their mum, Peggy Sweeney, would often take them to visit her hometown, Sonnagh. This quaint village lies just to the west of Charlestown. Reflecting on those times, he mentioned an instance when Noel openly admitted on The Late Late Show that during these visits, their mum would often make them engage in rural tasks such as handling nettles, observing haystacks, and other things that were not a common sight in their city life in Manchester.
Mr Casey further nodded to the deep-seated ties between Charlestown and the Gallaghers, stating that the townsfolk hold a special place in their hearts for the brothers due to their tie to this place. As a testament to this, the presence of the Oasis band members often created excitement among the small East Mayo town. Mr Casey recalls vividly the euphoria and excitement amongst busloads of fans when word got out that either of the Gallagher brothers were spotted in town for a drink.
Siobhan Brennan, who runs the boutique, “Fashion Scene,” near Mr Casey’s hardware store, radiated joy while speaking about the long-anticipated reunion of Oasis. Arranging garments in her shop, she could hardly hide her anticipation. “This news is thrilling. I’ve been swept off my feet. My girls, Sinead, Stephanie, and Shauna are massive Oasis buffs. I’m positive they’ll come back home for one of the gigs slated for next August in Croke Park as part of the reunion tour,” she stated.
She reminisces about the days of Oasis’s glory, when the band would visit Charlestown, remembering how the entire town would be bustling to see them. “It was heartbreaking when they split. They had everything set for them. They are such pleasant chaps,” she said.
The Gallagher lads were known for visiting most of the pubs in Charlestown over the years, their favourite spot being JJ Finan’s bar and hardware store in the town square. Here, they would enjoy a pint while partaking in some billiards and impromptu singalongs. The pub’s patrons would usually find themselves sitting next to farming tools like shovels and picks.
Liam and Noel, from the Sweeney family on their mother’s side, held a strong kinship with Finan’s, seeing it as their community spot. John Finan, the proprietor, was thrilled about the brotherly reunion of the Oasis band.
Anticipating their return visit, he stated, “The previous visits have brought some wonderful evenings, hoping for the same in future visits. I’m envisioning them performing here again, whenever the reunion occurs.”
John Casey expressed his excitement about the reformation of Oasis and is eagerly looking forward to their performances at Croke Park alongside other major events. Nevertheless, he nurses a personal aspiration.
“It would be absolutely splendid to have them at McHale Park in Castlebar or even at our local GAA field in Charlestown,” he remarked.
He further elaborated, “Despite certain practical difficulties, it would be magnificent. Indeed, the absolute pinnacle of all dreams.”