FOUR PLAY

>> Fans fury as thousands miss out in presale chaos >>But 'bulk of tickets' still to be sold Friday

- SANDRA MALLON

COLDPLAY yesterday announced an unprecedented four nights at Croke Park as fan demand went through the roof.

The rockers made a surprise announcement that they will play a fourth date next year on September 2 to add to the August 29, August 30 and September 1 gigs, amid an online frenzy.

This places them ahead of U2, who have only ever played three nights at Croker and just behind Garth Brooks, who has played five.

But it came after fans were left furious at the price of some tickets they were offered following hours in the virtual queue for presale yesterday.

One Coldplay diehard, Ita O'Brien, said she had been quoted €987.85 for just one ticket.

An annoyed Ita told Katie Hannon, who is filling in for Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline: "I was actually shocked now at the price because I thought maybe that was originally for the four tickets but having been online for three hours and knowing that this was the price they were going to have.

"I contacted my daughter, and she knew someone who got tickets for €133 an hour and a half earlier.

"I suppose I imagined I'd pay anything from €80 to €120 because I've always been a fan of Coldplay.