Robbie Williams' tour is playing to an estimated 2.6 million fans

"I'll be back before the end of the year," Williams told the sell-out crowd at Dublin's Croke Park Stadium.

Williams was left suspended above the stage in a gondola-like construction when it failed to descend to the stage.

He finally made his own way back down to wind up the gig, one of 14 European dates on his Close Encounters tour.

For the majority of the concert Williams delighted screaming fans with a string of his hits including Radio, Let Me Entertain You and Angels.

The star has not toured for three years

Fireworks heralded the start of the show and raised most of the crowd to their feet, where they stayed until the end.

A duet with his friend Jonathan Wilkes, Me And My Shadow, was a surprise addition to the performance before Williams sang the Take That hit, Back For Good, followed by his own No Regrets.

Robbie Williams is playing to an estimated 2.6 million fans around the world on his tour, which began in South Africa last month and will end in Australia in December.

His planned September gigs at the new Wembley Stadium were moved to the Milton Keynes Bowl after the venue was beset by building delays.