OASIS IN DUBLIN: COUNTDOWN TO CROKER SHOWS IS FINALLY OVER

OASIS fans went Supersonic last night when Noel Gallagher rocked up for a pint in a pub close to the five-star hotel where he is staying ahead of the band's two Croke Park gigs this weekend.

- BY SANDRA MALLON and CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

The guitarist was swamped by hordes of fans as he enjoyed a pre concert tipple at Brady's pub in Maynooth, Co Kildare, after he had checked into the luxurious Carton House hotel.

It comes as this newspaper can reveal that Noel and his brother Liam will be staying miles apart, with Liam only arriving into Ireland today to stay at the equally plush Powerscourt Hotel in Co Wicklow.

But it was all about Noel last night as the rock star casually enjoyed a drink in Maynooth.

A fan who met him in the Kildare pub said he was "bang on" and "like a normal lad".

Ryan King luckily caught a glimpse of one of his favourite musicians before he went back to his hotel - and even got his bucket hat signed.

Speaking to this newspaper, he said: "The security told us to leave him but he said 'Come on' and he signed a t-shirt, a hat and a few vinyls for the lads. "He was nice, he was bang on, he's like a normal lad."

Local Linda Hannigan thought her daughter Abbie was lying when she pointed out the shade-wearing rocker in the pub.

Massive fans, they were lucky enough to be enjoying some Friday night drinks when he came in.

Abbie said he was there for about an hour but when the crowds started to swarm he decided to leave.

NICE

She added: "It was fine, no one really bothered him and then word spread and a couple of mammies went up [with babies] and started taking pictures in front of his face and then it got unsettled.

"People started crowding him and it got a bit much.

"The security told everyone not to move and he will take pictures through the crowd and he was very friendly and nice.

"I was here for drinks with my parents and my mam thought I was messing because we were trying to get tickets and I only got my ticket yesterday. I am going on Sunday."