Every Slane concert creates its own story...this one had strangers line-dancing together under a summer sky

Walking through the Castle woodlands, all you can hear is the gentle trickle of water and birdsong. Then, almost imperceptibly, the peace gives way to the growing buzz of one of the world's most iconic concert venues. Sally Harding kept it country for the latest chapter of Slane show history

There are few better ways to arrive at a Slane concert than on foot.

Walking into the from my family home just outside the village has become something of a tradition. Yes, it's a bit of a trek, but it's all part of the experience, giving you the chance to watch the excitement build with every step. Families, groups of friends and country music fans decked out in cowboy boots, denim, fringed jackets and every style of Stetson imaginable all made the pilgrimage towards one of Ireland's most iconic concert venues.

There was a sense that everyone had made an effort for the occasion on Saturday, the first of two back to back Luke Comb's gigs and the first such double event for Slane. Sequinned shirts caught the evening sun, boots crunched along the roadside and Stetsons bobbed through the growing crowds. Complete strangers exchanged smiles and chatted as they made their way towards the castle, united by a shared excitement that only a Slane concert seems to generate.

For an event attracting almost 80,000 people, what stood out was just how relaxed everyone seemed.

There was no sense of tension or over-exuberance, just thousands of people genuinely looking forward to a great night's music. Even members of the Civil Defence in the village commented on how good-natured the crowd had been throughout the day, something that continued well into the evening.

The approach through the village had its own entertainment. Traders lined the roadside with rails of cowboy hats, trucker caps and bucket hats, repeatedly calling, "Cash or card!" There was something wonderfully ironic about it. The traditional roadside trader – once synonymous with crumpled notes and pockets full of change – has quietly embraced the modern world. These days, a portable card reader is as essential as the merchandise itself.

The familiar woodland walk towards the concert site reminded me why Slane remains so special. Strings of vintage-style bulbs hung overhead, transforming the trees into something straight from a country music movie set. Although I've walked these paths countless times, it never ceases to amaze me how this peaceful estate overlooking the River Boyne can, for one weekend, become a world-class amphitheatre.

For a few moments, all you can hear is the gentle trickle of water and birdsong. Then, almost imperceptibly, the peace gives way to the growing buzz of one of the world's greatest concert venues.

One minute it's ancient trees and quiet country lanes. The next it's 80,000 people singing in unison beneath the shadow of Slane Castle.

That transformation never loses its magic.

By the time I reached the main arena, anticipation was steadily building. The crowd had already been well entertained by the afternoon's support acts, and The Script's arrival signalled that the evening was moving into top gear.

Irish favourites The Script delivered exactly what the crowd wanted – hit after hit. Frontman Danny O'Donoghue had the audience in the palm of his hand as he urged them: "Life is too short. In the realms of infinity, we are only here for a click. Forget about your worries, let it all go. Remember tonight, remember the moment and take it with you." Looking back, it summed up the mood of the evening perfectly. They rounded off their set with the ever-popular Hall of Fame, providing the perfect launchpad for Luke Combs' arrival.

Luke Combs' appearance also marked a milestone for Slane, becoming the second concert in the venue's first-ever back-to-back concert weekend.

Shortly after 8.30pm, Luke Combs stepped onto the stage to a deafening roar.

There was no elaborate theatrical entrance or unnecessary fanfare. He simply arrived, guitar in hand, smiled at the sea of fans before him and got straight down to business. Within moments, Slane had become one enormous country singalong.

Combs mixed upbeat anthems with his trademark down-to-earth charm, never appearing overwhelmed despite standing in front of one of the biggest audiences of his career. Between songs, he admitted it was hard to believe how far his journey had taken him and revealed this was the first time he had ever performed at a castle.

One of the loudest cheers of the evening wasn't even for the headline act. Surprise guest Garron Noone emerged to an enormous welcome, proving once again just how firmly he has cemented himself in the hearts of Irish audiences. It was one of those genuinely unexpected moments that instantly lifted the atmosphere another notch.

The surprises didn't end there. Dermot Kennedy's appearance alongside Combs for his mega hit "Oklahoma" was another reminder that Irish crowds love nothing more than seeing homegrown talent share the stage with international stars.

Among the thousands enjoying the concert were Minister for Foreign Affairs and Meath East TD Helen McEntee and Meath East TD Thomas Byrne, who joined fans for Luke Combs' Slane debut.

Out across the field, pockets of fans broke into line dancing while others wrapped their arms around friends and sang every lyric back towards the stage. There was something very wholesome about it all. No pushing. No drama. Just thousands of people enjoying themselves.

My favourite moment, however, had nothing to do with the stage.

Turning to look back across the crowd was breathtaking. A sea of almost 80,000 people stretched as far as the eye could see, every face turned towards the stage, every voice joining in. From where I stood, it was hard to believe this was the same landscape that spends most of the year in near silence.

Luke Combs may have been the headline act, but for me, the atmosphere stole the show.It came from the people who had travelled from every corner of the country, the volunteers helping visitors find their way, the traders doing a brisk business and the simple joy of seeing tens of thousands of people sharing one memorable summer evening.

From the relaxed walk through the village and the cries of traders asking "cash or card?", to strangers line dancing together beneath the summer sky, the entire evening had an easy-going warmth that perfectly reflected country music itself.

Every Slane concert creates its own story. Some are remembered for iconic performances, some for the weather, others for unforgettable moments in music history.

Luke Combs' debut, for me, will be remembered for an incredible atmosphere, a crowd in great spirits and the surreal sight of one of Ireland's quietest beauty spots becoming, for one unforgettable evening, the centre of the country music world.