After an 11-year break, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street band returned to energise Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, attracting approximately 30,000 enthusiastic music supporters who were eager to see the renowned rocker from New Jersey. His last performance in the anciet city was during his highly acclaimed Wrecking Ball Weekender. Even though he only performed for one night of his US and European tour in Kilkenny, the city was alive with excitement for the whole weekend, and the local accommodation, taverns and eateries were teeming with both locals and tourists.
For nearly four decades, there has been a deep affection between Springsteen and Ireland, starting with his inaugural concert at Slane Castle in County Meath in June 1985. Since then, Springsteen and his band have performed in Ireland about 30 times. The country has become a “Promised Land” for him, with his shows constantly drawing large crowds.
The excitement in Kilkenny was palpable, with the city immersed in a frenzy of ‘Bossmania’ that extended for several weeks, even inspiring a mural of the 74-year-old musician on the revered walls of the GAA stadium, a venue famed for its senior All-Ireland winning hurling teams. The striking mural which featured Springsteen against an American flag backdrop was crafted by Paul Murphy, a tutor at Gowran National School.
Among the spectators was Fergal O’Neill, a man in his late 30s from Tuam, Galway, who had been a fan for years but was watching Springsteen perform live for the first time. He described the mood in Kilkenny as resembling a carnival and believed that the concert at Nowlan Park would have an intimate feel.
His friend, Tom Lonergan from Naas, County Kildare, joined him in praising the vibrant atmosphere, the sunny weather and the jubilant crowd, along with the appeal of both Springsteen’s music and the city of Kilkenny.
Claire’s attendance at the concert in Kilkenny was her fourth encounter with The Boss’s performances, an interest that was a legacy from her parents. The event had a festive aura that was akin to a celebration. Thanks to strategic traffic management by the local Garda, council, local GAA, and public transport officials, the mass movement of spectators through the narrow streets into the concert venue at 5pm was without any hitches.
Among the attendees was Peter Bennett, a resident of the outskirts of Cardiff, Wales, who took the journey with several of his lifelong companions. They had previously had the privilege of watching Bruce perform in various locations and were attendees of his Wrecking Ball tour at Kilkenny, an experience they found incredibly pleasurable. Thus, they opted to miss his debut tour in Cardiff the previous weekend and travel to Kilkenny instead.
Extolling the accessibility of Ireland and Kilkenny, Bennett added that commuting from Pembroke to Rosslare Europort by ferry and subsequently driving for about an hour to the city was a breeze.
John Hurley, CEO of the Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce, echoed the sentiment about the city’s accessibility via trains, buses, and cars from various corners of the region and beyond. He recalled a similar jovial mood when Bruce last performed in the city in 2023, stating that the recent concert resonated with that same vibe, bringing positive impacts to the region.