Madonnamania was set to sweep Ulster today as tickets for the pop queen’s first ever Irish concert went on sale.

Up to 250 extra staff were drafted in by Ticketmaster to cope with the expected demand.

The Material Girl will bring her re-Invention World Tour to Slane Castle on August 29.

Since news of her visit to Ireland was finally confirmed after months of speculation, promoters and ticket outlets have been inundated with calls from thousands of fans.

Tickets for her first gig in Ireland went on sale at 8.00 am today but were expected to sell out within hours.

Eamonn O’Connor, managing director, Ticketmaster Ireland, said: “We are expecting a massive demand for Madonna tickets.

“This concert has been talked about for years and now Madonna is finally coming there is real excitement amongst fans.”

He added: “We are bringing in extra staff to man the phones and oversee the internet site while Ticketmaster outlets around the country will also be open from 8am.

“We expect to be very very busy because everyone wants to see Madonna.”

Tickets, priced £61.94, are limited to six per person.

Among the special preparations made by Ticketmaster are extra capacity on internet lines and telephone lines, extra personnel, no queuing allowed at Ticketmaster outlets before 7am and also security arrangements at key Ticketmaster outlets.

Article by Maureen Coleman, Belfast Telegraph