Taylor Swift returns to Ireland for a spectacular show at Aviva Stadium

Taylor Swift performing on stage at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin

Taylor Swift fever swept through Dublin on Friday night as the American megastar rocked her first Irish gig in six years.

The buzz around her much-anticipated Dublin arrival to belt out tunes for three back-to-back gigs this weekend was unmatched. A whopping crowd of nearly 55,000 fans, many who'd splashed serious cash, descended on Dublin's Aviva Stadium well before showtime.

Decked out in pink cowboy hats, glittery jackets and gear plastered with Swift's words, they were a sight to behold. And when Taylor, aged 34, hit the stage for the latest stop of her worldwide Eras Tour, the roar from the stadium was thunderous.

The chart-topping songstress kicked off with a bang, belting out Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince from her 2019 hit album Lover. Her powerhouse performance, clocking in at almost three and a half hours, kept the crowd on an adrenaline high throughout.

"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 gushed, visibly moved by the sea of over 50,000 fans, before diving into The Man, reports the Irish Mirror.

She continued with excitement: "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 from one album to another, equally at ease performing pop anthems 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 rendition 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 and introspective charm of her 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore (co-produced with The National's Aaron Dressner) brought a significant shift in the musical atmosphere before fans indulged in the nostalgia of her breakthrough album 1989 with massive hits like 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 such as Fortnight, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart and The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived were a huge hit at the Aviva, despite being released just weeks ago in April this year.

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

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

At the Aviva, I tallied well over a dozen costume changes. The ever-changing wardrobe and show banter make each night a unique event for the adoring masses of fans.

The average fan at her Irish gig on Friday night was estimated to have shelled out close to €1,000 on tickets, travel, accommodation, outfits and merchandise. These ecstatic fans add another layer to this deafening pop spectacle - such energy at an outdoor concert is seldom seen.

As the night wound down at the Aviva, the crowd were treated to a few surprise songs before a finale drawn from the impressive concept album Midnights. Taylor will return to the Aviva tonight and tomorrow to entertain 100,000 more fans, who, based on the first night, will relish an occasionally unbelievable experience filled with hours of joyous singing and dancing.