Girls Aloud are back! Band return to the stage for the first time in 11 years as their reunion tour kicks off in Dublin with heartbreaking tribute to late Sarah Harding, leaving fans in tears

Girls Aloud returned to the stage for the first time in 11 years as their reunion tour kicked off in Dublin with a heartbreaking tribute to the late Sarah Harding.

Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh made up the iconic girl band alongside Sarah until her tragic death from cancer in 2021.

But over a decade after their last performance, Girls Aloud reunited on Friday at Dublin’s 3Arena for the first night of their comeback arena tour – which is dedicated to Sarah.

The girl group’s opening night had their late bandmate at its centre with a rendition of I’ll Stand By You set to a video of Sarah and her vocals, leaving fans in tears. 

The stars formed the iconic girl band in 2002 after winning Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and reunited with new music for their 10th anniversary in 2012. A second reunion for their 20th anniversary was planned but came as Sarah received her diagnosis.

Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts , Kimberley Walsh made up the iconic girl band alongside Sarah until her tragic death from cancer in 2021 

Videos and pictures of Sarah played on the screens behind the stage as the four girls performed 

Over a decade after their last performance, Girls Aloud reunited on Friday at Dublin’s 3Arena for the first night of their comeback arena tour – which is dedicated to Sarah (Pictured in 2017)

The new tour, which will play major UK cities including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Liverpool, is dedicated to Sarah.

Girls Aloud fans – those lucky enough to be at the Dublin show and those admiring online – rushed to social media to share that they were moved by the tribute.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, they said: ‘This is what you call a tribute. Taking out her demo vocals to showcase her incredible legacy is something only this band would do. Long reign Girls Aloud!’ and ‘If you see me crying in Cardiff at the Girls Aloud show, yes you did ‘cause Sarah Harding was a legend. RIP Queen,’;

‘What a beautiful tribute to Sarah. Girls aloud truly breathtaking. Girls be proud! Sarah will be. x,’;

‘Well this just broke my heart,’; ‘I’m honestly crying. We miss you Sarah,’;

‘this moment is going to be the end of me, my goodness… SARAH FOREVER ❤️❤️❤️,’;

‘Sarah tribute is so special, so nice to hear her voice part of the tour,’; ‘This is a moment wow.’

Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh and Sarah Harding formed the iconic band in 2002 after winning Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 (pictured)

The girl group’s opening night had their late bandmate at its centre with a rendition of ‘I’ll Stand By You’ set to a video of Sarah and her vocals, leaving fans in tears

Nadine, Cheryl, Kimberley and Nicola sang while wearing matching evening gowns as A picture of Sarah looking glam shone on the screen behind

But over a decade after their last performance, Girls Aloud reunited on Friday at Dublin’s 3Arena for the first night of their comeback arena tour 

Cheryl pictured during the Dublin concert 

Nadine, Nicola, Cheryl, Kimberley looked sensational as they took to the stage together in Dublin

Cheryl’s ensemble featured a floaty open-front skirt which was taken off to reveal a skin-coloured catsuit 

Kimberley channelled her inner 70s diva as she donned a white bejewelled flared jumpsuit

Nadine and Kimberley seen mid-performance on Friday

Nicola looked elegant in a chiffon sequined mini-dress with a ruffled skirt

Girls Aloud fans – those lucky enough to be at the Dublin show and those admiring online – rushed to social media to share that they were moved by the tribute to Sarah

Cheryl is pictured singing amid Girls Aloud’s first show of the tour 

Cheryl, Nadine, Nicola and Kimberley change into glitzy evening gowns 

Sarah was at the heart of the show as clips of her played on the screens

Nicola changes into a sequined cut-out skirt and black gloves while surrounded by male dancers in silver trousers

Nadine, Nicola, Cheryl, Kimberley looked sensational as they took to the stage together in Dublin.

Kimberley channelled her inner 70s diva as she donned a white bejewelled flared jumpsuit, while Nadine opted for a daring blingy bodysuit complete with a tulle train.

Meanwhile, Nicola looked elegant in a chiffon sequined mini-dress with a ruffled skirt and Cheryl’s ensemble featured a floaty open-front skirt. 

For another number, the girls switched up their angelic looks and sported biker attire as they took to motorbikes suspended in the air.

In another costume change, the stars sported black and red latex outfits as they were surrounded by their back-up dancers.

But the tour got off to unstable start as less than an hour before their expected arrival at the 3Arena in Dublin, the group issued an ‘updated stage time’ on X.

It said due to ‘Dublin motorway closures’, the foursome would arrive 30 minutes later than expected at 9.15pm.

Nadine looked sensational in a huge red metallic inflatable skirt 

Cheryl and Nadine sing surrounded by dancers in white suits holding huge pink fans

In another costume change, the stars sported black and red latex outfits as they were surrounded by their back-up dancers

Girls Aloud in another costume change into latex amid their show 

Cheryl is seen sporting a sheer sequined black catsuit in another costume change

Kimberley is seen singing while wearing a huge inflated red skirt

For another number, the girls switched up their angelic looks and sported black attire

The singers took to motorbikes suspended in the air as part of another performance

After two back-to-back opening nights in Dublin’s 3Arena, Girls Aloud will play two concerts at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Monday and Tuesday

Girls Aloud perform the first date of their reunion tour in Dublin, Ireland

Cheryl is seen on a motorbike which is suspended in the air during one of the numbers 

They will then head to the Manchester AO Arena from Thursday to Saturday

But the tour got off to unstable start as less than an hour before their expected arrival at the 3Arena in Dublin, the group issued an ‘updated stage time’ on X

Ahead of the show, a post on the official Girls Aloud X account said: ‘Rehearsals? Done. Choreography? Ready. Outfits? Fitted. Girls? Aloud.

‘…We’ve been working so hard to make this show special for all of you.’

After two back-to-back opening nights in Dublin’s 3Arena, Girls Aloud will play two concerts at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Monday and Tuesday.

They will then head to the Manchester AO Arena from Thursday to Saturday.

In November, the group had to add six extra dates to their UK and Ireland 2024 arena tour due to ‘unprecedented demand’ following ticket pre-sales.

When they announced the tour, Cheryl revealed they had been discussing the plans for some time but put the idea on ice when Sarah – who died in September 2021 – was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She said: ‘We all started talking about the possibility of doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20-year anniversary a few years ago. The anniversary seemed like an obvious thing that we would celebrate.

‘But when Sarah fell ill all priorities changed. She passed away a year before the anniversary and it just didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.’

The group plan to use the tour to “celebrate” their late friend.

Cheryl added: ‘But now, I think there is an energy that does makes it feel right. It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this 21 years later. That’s a big honour in lots of ways.’

Kimberley said: ‘Over the last year, we’ve felt this outpouring of love – obviously towards Sarah, but actually towards all of us as a group.

‘And I guess it’s ignited something in all of us again. It feels like something has changed and it does feel like the right time to celebrate Sarah and the 20-year anniversary that we didn’t celebrate at the time.’

The group hope fans will enjoy the tour just as much as them.

Nadine said: ‘Girls Aloud are a band that made such a huge impact on people’s lives. We grew up with the band, but so did so many other people.

‘So for us not to do something again feels like such a shame and a waste. We want to have that moment with fans where we can all enjoy it together.’