Those dancehall sweethearts Horslips returned to the stage this weekend after 29 years – and looked like they'd never been away.

In front of a select audience of loyal fans in the back bar of a Drogheda pub, the re-formed five-piece played a vigorous two and a half hour set that belied their years.

The gig, in McHugh's of Chord Road, was a celebration of one of Ireland's most successful and best-loved rock bands from the opening bars of 'King of the Fairies' to the roof-raising encore of 'Shakin' All Over'.

Horslips, shorn only of drummer Eamon Carr, have come back together for two sell-out gigs this week in Belfast and Dublin. And like all good friends reunited, they're having a ball. "It's been fantastic," said Barry Devlin, who confesses his eagerness to keep the gang going beyond next weekend.

"It's been six months since we got back together, and a lot of work has gone into it. It would be a shame if we didn't get to play a bit more than this. We're all having a ball."

In front of an audience of 250 in McHugh's, the four original members – Johnny Fean, Charles O'Connor, Jim Lockhart and Devlin, with former Tuesday Blue drummer Ray Fean on drums – delivered a powerful set drawn from their 10 studio albums, including a powerful selection from the 2004 acoustic Roll>Back.

From the first chord of each song the die-hard audience roared its approval as fans shook the locks that were no longer there.

Drogheda solicitor Paddy Goodwin was a prime mover in the reunion. A long-time fan of the band, he fulfilled a lifetime ambition by being invited up on stage for the final encore.

"Paddy's been a sort of patron of Horslips for many years," said Devlin, "a Medici figure if you like".

"Actually," he paused, "maybe more of a Borgia".

The ever-youthful Devlin – the band sang 'Happy Birthday' to him on Friday to mark his 63rd – had lost none of the zest of old, while the multi-instrumentalist O'Connor was on top form. Guitar hero Fean was having a ball too, and his epic solo on 'Furniture' reeled back the years for many of the audience.

The set raced through crowd favourites such as 'Loneliness', 'The Man Who Built America' and the magical riff of 'Dearg Doom'. And as the audience drifted off into the night, they knew this was an occasion that would drive the cold winter away.