Tears fall in Kilkenny as Bruce Springsteen pays moving tribute to Shane MacGowan

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band had arrived, and the people of Kilkenny were going to make him feel as welcome as if he was at home in New Jersey.

Garden parties sprung up in houses surrounding the stadium, some playing Springsteen’s greatest hits while others took turns on karaoke machines murdering a few classics.

For the thousands packed into UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, if the sun splitting sunshine wasn’t enough to get us in the mood, Bruce appearing on stage shortly after 5pm — two hours before he’s due — was something really special.

“Hey early birds,” the 74-year-old rock star said, surprising the faithful, as he kicked off with This Hard Land, before disappearing again.

This is why he’s The Boss and we’re the faithful. pic.twitter.com/gEJ8vURpHw

— Greg Murphy 🤓 (@TheGregMurphy) May 12, 2024

But nothing prepared us for his return to the stage shortly after 7pm. A familiar accordion strain echoed across the stadium and Bruce Springsteen kicked off a sunny night in Kilkenny with A Rainy Night in Soho.

Springsteen was visibly emotional as he paid his tribute to the late Irish singer Shane MacGowan who passed away in November 2023 with a beautiful rendition of The Pogues 1985 hit.

Tears fell in Nowlan Park, but not a drop of rain.

A roar of “Kilkenny” went out from the singer early in the night as he made his way amongst the crowds finding a delighted little girl on her father’s shoulders and giving her a guitar pic.

The night kicked up a gear with The Promised Land about 3/4 of an hour in when Bruce’s signature harmonica made an appearance, followed soon after by Hungry Heart.

“Kilkenny, are you having fun yet? Because we haven’t even started yet.”

The usual placards from the audience made an appearance with song requests and messages of love for the band. This reporter even spotted a Mayo For Sam sign held aloft.

Of course he played the classics, The Rising, Born to Run, Glory Days and so on but we were already captivated by the time they came around. He could have read the phone book and we would have loved him for it.

If there’s a man who knows how to satisfy an Irish audience, it’s Bruce Springsteen.

Despite playing a sell-out show in Dublin in 2023, it was the E Street Band’s first time back in the Marble City since 2013 and the crowd certainly showed The Boss what he’s been missing.

Touring for more than 50 years, age is but a number to these seasoned masters of their craft, and with an average age of 74, the E Street Band banished any rumours of retirement with another iconic three-hour set.

In a video on Springsteen’s social media to get the masses riled up for the gig, the music legend promised Kilkenny that he was going to “rock you into the ground” and the Boss was a man of his word.

Still high from the celebrations in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday after Cork beat Limerick, Leeside will be looking to keep the celebrations going at the home of Cork GAA on Thursday night, and Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band are going to make sure that happens.