Bruce Springsteen in Dublin: Thunderous applause greets the Boss at Croker

When the 80,000 strong crowd disbanded and Croke Park emptied out, we were all certain that The Boss had left nothing on the field.

Bruce Springsteen in Dublin: Thunderous applause greets the Boss at Croker

Diehard fans, from Co Donegal to Holland, had queued since Monday, Bruce Springsteen himself had flown in on Thursday and by Friday morning his name was trending on all social media highways across the land.

The Boss wasn’t just back, he was here in the flesh and with his E Street Band in tow. For a nation not known for our punctuality, no one dared to miss out on his prompt starting time of 7pm.

“He starts at seven sharp, you know?” I’d been warned all week.

Bruce Springsteen fans queueing at Croke Park, Dublin. Picture: Collins
Bruce Springsteen fans queueing at Croke Park, Dublin. Picture: Collins

So on Friday night we knew, we were not only in it for a good time, but a long time too.

By 7pm Croke Park had thickened out and by 7.15pm The Boss and the E Street Band were making their way out of the tunnel, through the pit and on to the main stage.

“Hello Dublin, my God there’s a lot of you,” were the first words out of his mouth.

That’s all it took to have the crowd screaming and bare arms flailing in unison as the guitar strings began to sound. He kicked to touch with ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’. Every soul in the stadium was on its feet.

Bruce Springsteen fan Niamh McDermott, from Co Donegal, at Croke Park, Dublin. Picture: Collins
Bruce Springsteen fan Niamh McDermott, from Co Donegal, at Croke Park, Dublin. Picture: Collins

The Boss, in his usual energetic and impassioned style, didn’t come up for air, throwing himself immediately into song two, three, four, five and six.

There were ‘Badlands’, ‘Two Hearts’, ‘Sherry Darling’, ‘The Ties That Bind’ and ‘My Love Will Never Let You Down’.

This was to be a pared back version of The Boss’s typical performances but still, there were nine musicians, including his wife, on stage with him.

Stefan Saghy from Austria, Claire O’Gara, from Donegal, and Jimmy “The barber” Coghlan, from Kilrush. Picture: Collins
Stefan Saghy from Austria, Claire O’Gara, from Donegal, and Jimmy “The barber” Coghlan, from Kilrush. Picture: Collins

There were two pianos, drums, a saxophone, guitars and a tambourine.

And everyone in Croke Park was having a whale of a time, as the 66-year-old rock icon poured every inch of himself into every single bar of music.

Monika Odefey and Aine Carvill from Dublin. Picture: Collins
Monika Odefey and Aine Carvill from Dublin. Picture: Collins

His passion and good nature infected the crowd. There was no beer spilling or queue jumping, everyone was here for a good old-fashioned time. His army of fans wore their uniforms of denim and chequered shirts, cowboy hats and boots.

T-shirts read: ‘It’s Boss Time’ and caps were with emblazoned with ‘The Boss’.

There were star-spangled scarves and bandanas, blow-up musical instruments and handwritten cardboard signs, the kind you’d only find at a Bruce Springsteen concert.

Brandi Gill from Los Angeles. Picture: Collins
Brandi Gill from Los Angeles. Picture: Collins

“Bucket list: human touch with you,” read one of the placards from the pit.

However, after 43 years on the road, The Boss shows no sign of slowing and after playing his heart out in Croker, he’ll do it all again tonight for another legion of 80,000 fans.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Irish homelessness Government criticised for missing social and affordable housing targets
National Risk Assessment for Ireland Tánaiste urges Israel ‘to show humanity’ and allow more aid into Gaza
Lego set based on RNLI lifeboat could soon become a reality Lego set based on RNLI lifeboat could soon become a reality
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited