OVER 30,000 Bruce Springsteen fans gave ‘The Boss’ and The E Street Band a Thomond Park welcome last Tuesday night. Every Springsteen concert is more than just a gig and here in Limerick, a city baked in sunny days and basking in GAA Munster Final glory days, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band delivered an epic event. “We are here to fill you with the everlasting power of rock ‘n’ roll”, Springsteen roared to his faithful fans as the band launched into ‘This Little Light of Mine’. The crowd sang along to ‘Hungry Heart’ and ‘The River’. A fan handed Bruce a beer which he downed in one go, another fan gave the 63 year old rocker a giant Irish passport which he brought on stage.
The warm setting sun over Thomond park reminded Bruce of his youth in New Jersey and writing Born To Run at the age of 24, he performed the 1975 album in full.
Bruce dedicated a heartfelt rendition of ‘My Hometown’ to Limerick jockey JT McNamara who sustained a serious back injury after a fall at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
The biggest roar of the night was for Springsteen’s congratulations to the Limerick hurling team on “winning the championship” and Thomond Park danced to ‘Glory Days’.
After an epic three hours and 18 minutes Bruce bade farewell, “Thank you Ireland, thank you Limerick”, with a frantic version of ‘Shout’. A legendary energetic performance from Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band that rocked the city, the party continued in Limerick city centre well into the morning.
