Mayo town is 'abuzz' over welcome Oasis comeback

The east Mayo community Charlestown is 'abuzz' following the official announcement today that the UK rock band, Oasis, is making a comeback following talks between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.

The reunited band will play at Croke Park on August 16 and 17 of next year.

Liam and Noel's mother, Peggy, is a native of Charlestown and she emigrated to Manchester at the age of 18.

But the Gallagher family made regular summer visits to their grandmother, Margaret Sweeney, Soonagh, Charlestown. Margaret sadly passed away in September 2000.

Now the news of the return of Oasis, after much speculation, has evoked an immense sense of delight and excitement in Peggy's home town.

Speaking to the Claire Byrne Show on RTE Radio One, local publican John Finan said he knew Liam and Noel over the years and the former sang in his pub one night during a music session.

"They were regular visitors to the town in their younger days. They liked spending time in James Casey's Pub up the street because it had a pool table.

"When James sold the pub, they came in a lot to our place. The day of their grandmother Margaret's funeral was an emotional one.

"One of our customers brought the family a drink that day.

"I found Liam and Noel to be very nice lads. They were good to my wife and family. They were always very modest lads.

"They told me they liked my pub, which has a shop at the front and might not be everybody's cup of tea.

"It was an honour for us to have Liam singing in our pub.

"It's good to see them back on stage together again."

Speaking in the same programme, Anthony Kelly of the Riverside Guesthouse said the return of Oasis is a great boost for Charlestown and the surrounding area.

"There is a great buzz around the place since we read the headlines this morning.

"Interesting, I met three German people the other day who were visiting the town because of its connection with Oasis.

"As far as I can establish, the boys stayed in our guesthouse during one of their summer visits.

"Somebody once told Noel that we had erected a plaque in the room when they stayed.

"That was not true but it's something we should seriously consider now."

Ireland West Airport Knock has also joined the excitement with a post on its Facebook page of Liam Gallagher holding a sweatshirt with the words 'Keep Calm and Mayo for Sam' on it.

It was accompanied with the comment; "Looking forward to welcoming the brothers to their summer spiritual home next summer."