Bruce Springsteen staged an unforgettable performance at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny on a Sunday evening, commencing the jampacked event with a heartfelt cover of The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ in honour of the late Shane MacGowan, whom he paid a visit during his prior Irish sojourn. Approximately 30,000 enthusiasts witnessed the concert, which was the second out of his four scheduled dates across Ireland. Belfast was privy to his performance the previous Thursday, with Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork taking their turn this coming Thursday, and Croke Park in Dublin on the subsequent Sunday.
And what was the verdict from our readers regarding the Kilkenny experience?
‘Brimming with raw emotion and sincerity’
The show was nothing short of extraordinary, infused with unabashed sentiment and genuine endearment for the audience and the venue. The Boss indulged the crowd with over three hours of rock and roll intertwined with humour, cheer, and stirring reminiscence of those who are no longer in his life and their significance to him. The concert was so powerful that it moved many in the audience to tears – shared John Huggard from Co Sligo.
‘Simply Unforgettable’
That was quite arguably the most exhilarating happening at Nowlan Park since Kilkenny overcame Tipperary in the 2013 Championship. Having witnessed Bruce in action four times prior, this evening stood out as truly impactful. Besides a poignant homage to Shane MacGowan, the show presented a visual and auditory feast – expressed Nigel Coady of Co Wexford.
‘A moment that rendered me speechless’
The journey my partner and I embarked on, from Portumna in Galway to Kilkenny, to catch a glimpse of The Boss in action, evolved into a truly extraordinary and unbelievable experience. The first three notes on the piano playing ‘Rainy Night in Soho’ rendered me dumbstruck, and as soon as Bruce commenced his singing, I could utter nothing more than an awestruck ‘WOW’. His performance was an emotionally charged and credible salute to our dearly beloved Shane MacGowan, reaffirming why Bruce Springsteen is rightfully called The Boss – reveals Órla Kennedy from Co Galway.
‘Kilkenny embraces The Boss with open arms!’
An exceptional gig by ‘The Boss’ might persuade even the most diehard sceptics of his affection for Kilkenny. Clearly, Kilkenny reciprocates his love! The entire show was a spectacular event marked by a dazzling array of highlights. The hit song ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ (a tribute to the late Shane MacGowan), was my personal pick of the concert. Would happily repeat this experience in a heartbeat – Pat Murphy from Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
[Supporters of Bruce Springsteen in Belfast share their insights: ‘I’d travel around the globe to see Bruce perform’]
[All you need to learn about Bruce Springsteen’s concert at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork]
‘Packed with notable incidents’
The atmosphere was electric! Hours before the real festivities kicked off, Bruce treated listeners in the pit with an acoustic rendition of ‘This Hard Land’. It was fantastic to welcome back sign requests in these gigs, instigating an exciting sense of unpredictability amongst the band and fans. With countless memorable events and interactions with the crowd, superb venue and favourable weather, it was a night to be remembered for all the right reasons – Sarah Moore from Co Dublin.