It's an experience I won't forget for a long time - if ever.
Having been left disappointed in 2014 when the Garth Brooks gigs at Croke Park were cancelled, I thought I would never get the opportunity to see the legend live.
Even since I met Darren I have heard repeated stories about the night he and his sister, Tracy and their family and friends saw the star way back in 1997 and he was awesome.
So, when the country superstar announced he was coming to Dublin this month, Tracy had been on the ball and got us all tickets.
We had a wonderful journey to Dublin on the Enterprise, comfortable and stress-free, stetsons on our heads, ready to watch the singer do what he does best.
It was only my second ever visit to Croke Park, having seen U2 there in 2017, but my goodness, when it's packed to the rafters - our seats came with an actual vertigo warning - the atmosphere was electric.
When the big man eventually rose to the stage in a puff of smoke, we and the other 80,000 people there let out a roar we had been holding back for the past eight years.
It was phenomenal.
I don't think there is another musician alive who can perform and own a stage like Brooks and boy, did he come with a plan to light up that arena.
Of course, we all have our favourite tracks but for me, it was when the first notes of Callin' Baton Rouge were played that the place erupted and everyone went wild.
With amazing lighting, which included the Irish flag being illuminated behind him, the place shone brightly, helped of course by the sea of phone lights below me.
Hit after hit after hit - I really don't know how he does it at the age of 60 - we were up and down, dancing, waving our arms, singing out loud, everyone together, our own little Irish Garth Brooks family.
And, when my favourite, The Dance, came on, it was time to have a cuddle with Darren.
Ninety minutes in, after a gorgeous duet with his lovely wife and fellow country star, Trisha Yearwood, Garth and his band exited the stage but it wasn't for long.
For when he returned, he and his guitar belted out hits from Billy Joel, Elton John and Ed Sheeran - it was brilliant.
As we left Croke Park, there were sing-songs galore.
On the train back to Belfast, we were elated as we discussed the night.
Now, I have my own wonderful memories and with rumours that he could be returning for an All-Ireland tour, I might get the chance to see him again - my new stetson is already itching for another outing.
Until then Garth, thanks for an experience we will never forget.
Keep raising hell.
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Calling all Spice Girls fans ....it's the news you've all been waiting for.
The Girl Power group are reportedly set to headline Glastonbury next year and apparently, plans are well advanced.
More than 27 years after bursting on to the music scene, industry insiders claim Baby, Ginger, Sporty, Scary and possibly Posh are set to play the Pyramid stage at Worthy Farm.
A source said: "The negotiations are ongoing but they have reached a stage where things are really looking likely, with or without Victoria. The Spice Girls are not a band to typically perform at Glastonbury but they are legendary".
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Competition
Anyone fancy winning a "delightful debut novel of love, friendship and keeping secrets"?
The Two-Week Promise by Regina Brownell asks, when the honeymoon is over, can their romance keep going?
Ellie and Charlotte’s friendship has a set of rules they wrote long ago - and Ellie has just broken Rule #5.
The morning after Charlotte’s wedding, Ellie has woken up in bed with Logan, Charlotte’s brother..
With Charlotte away on her honeymoon, the pair agree to keep their fling going until Charlotte returns.
And to assuage the guilt, they’ll work together on renovating the newlyweds’ bedroom as a welcome-home surprise.
But no matter how hard they try to stick to the plan, two weeks may not be nearly enough - and who knows what will happen when Charlotte’s honeymoon is over . . .
I have three copies of The Two Week Promise to give away.
If you would like the chance to win a copy, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with
the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com.
Closing date for entries is noon on Tuesday September 27.
(Q) Who wrote The Two Week Promise?
Normal Irish News rules apply
COMPETITION WINNERS
The winners of the About Dad competition are Caiomhe Todd, from Carnlough, Seán McCann, from Tandragee , and Ursula Hughes, from Coalisland
