One Direction rolled into town last Friday and some teenage and adult lives will never be the same again. I was invited along with some pure proper journalists from the likes of The Irish Times, The Sunday World and The Daily Mail, to go to the 3 Arena before the gig to have a chat with Niall Horan. Yeah, I was allowed into a room with an Irish Times journalist. Weird.
When we arrived to the 3 Arena, it was just before 4pm and the place was already packed with fans hanging around the side entrance hoping to get a glimpse of their idols as their blacked out Mercs rolled up to the venue like sleek, purring Pumas.
As we waited to be brought inside, we were getting some fierce side eye from the teens wondering what the hell these old people were doing hanging near them. That all changed as we were ushered inside; their looks transformed from embarrassment to awe and murder.
We were brought upstairs to the reception suites where we waited in a room stocked like the best Centra in the world except without the jambons. Niall arrived and sat facing a group of 6 people who all wanted a piece of him. For one of the most recognisable people in the world, he was unassuming and, surprisingly, a bit nervous.
Here's my group interview with the man from the Mullingar Massive.
As we all said goodbye to go our separate ways, a large people carrier pulled into the arena and the teens outside went to ground. Literally. They weren't clambering all over the car. They fell to the ground, phones pressed against the 2 inch gap in the fence to try to take a picture of whatever emerged from the car. Before security made them stand like the rest of the homo sapians in the world, their muted chatter of 'Was that Harry's boot?' spread like wild fire and a group of 5 teenagers from Spain accosted me: 'Why were you inside? Who did you meet? We don't have tickets. Can you help us?'
The look of tired desperation in their eyes made me realise that I will never experience the want these people have in their lives; this group of young men dictate their movements, their moods, their happiness and I was glad that I don't have that power. It's no wonder these young men want a break from the responsibility that comes with simply being who they are.
What will fill the void in the lives of these girls? Something, because their love can't live in a vacuum. Will One Direction really return after a year off? I hope so but there is a pong of' the lady doth protest too much'.
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