They travelled from as far afield as the US and as close as Co Mayo, for a chance to get up close to their hero with his E Street Band, for what some feared could be a final gasp.
They donned their Springsteen emblazoned t-shirts and made their rock pilgrimage to the north Dublin venue, capable of hosting 80,000.
We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity.
For superfan and photographer Paul Chambers, 54, who first went to see The Boss perform on July 4, 1985, at Wembley Stadium, this trip was “emotional”.
“It’s 39 years since my first Bruce concert. I made it to my 20th concert aged 54,” Mr Chambers from Guernsey told the Irish Independent.
“I lied to my parents about where I was going that day in 1985,” Mr Chambers said.
Bruce Springsteen superfan Paul Chambers at Croker this evening (Photo credit: Sarah Williams)
“I travelled across the country on a coach from Sheffield to London and that concert changed my life back then.
“I became a huge fan. His music has been there in the worst times and best times of my life. Bruce was very connected to working class people and I grew up in a mining community.
“His music gave me hope back then. It sustained me. But tonight feels like a benediction, like this might be the last chance I get to see him – though I do hope not.”
Mr Chambers said he met E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren backstage at one concert and the two hit it off.
“Nils messages me once a year to check in and I write back.
“This is more than a band to me and so many fans, it’s a lifelong connection.”
Hollywood actor and singer Nick Jonas at the Bruce Springsteen concert at Croke Park (Photo by Steve Humphreys)
Catherine Gannon, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, attended the concert with her sister, Mary Payton, from Moycullen, Co Galway, who was celebrating her “very special” 60th birthday.
“We’ve been to see Bruce so many times,” Ms Gannon said. “We’ve been to see him in Kilkenny too and so many times, over the years.
“We just want to rock on with him for the glory days. Our sons bought us the tickets and we’re delighted to be here. Everything about Bruce is amazing. But he’s performing better than he ever has and he’s really engaging with the crowd.”
Bruce Springsteen fans Suzanne Doherty, Donna Rigney and Louise O’Sullivan all from Straffan Co Kildare at Croke Park for the final Bruce Concert.
Photo by Steve Humphreys
19th May2024.
The sisters, who’ve been lifelong fans, anticipated hearing their favourite tracks, including Glory Days, Born to Run and Dancing in the Dark, to the backdrop of beautiful blue May skies at Croker.
Artist Niall Loughlin has recently completed a stunning portrait of Springsteen and friends had tried to convince him to take the art to Croker, but he was content just to party the night away with his wife, Helena.
The couple, in their mid 50s, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, have different musical tastes but Mr Loughlin was hoping to ignite a passion for Springsteen in his partner after a night at Croker.
“I think after tonight, she’ll be a Springsteen fan,” the artist said.
“I love his music, I’ve always been a fan. He sings about meaningful things. We don’t go to that many concerts but I had to be here tonight. Helena bought me the tickets and said I could take whoever I wanted, but there was really only one person I wanted to take, so I hope she becomes a fan too after this.”
Darren Farrell, 22, who works at The Clonliffe House pub in Ballybough, north Dublin, a stone’s throw from Croker, was crossing his fingers the star would pop in for a pint after the gig.
“We’ve had Springsteen all day,” Mr Farrell, son of pub owners, Pamela and Bernard, said.
“My parents are huge fans and I’m a fan too,” he added. “Springsteen’s walked past the pub but he hasn’t come in and we’d love him to come in for a pint. That would make our year.
“Everyone in here today is a Springsteen fan. Someone has been selling Garth Brooks hats, so some people are wearing those. It’s all great craic.
“There’s a real carnival atmosphere. I’d have loved to have gone but I knew how busy it would be today at the pub. People are here from every corner of Ireland, America and Europe. It’s great to see.”
Andrea Savignano, 38, co-owner of Wallace’s Asti Italian Wine Bar and Pizzeria, in the shadow of Croker, told how Springsteen’s crew had been eating in the restaurant all week.
“People have been queuing outside Croke Park since Wednesday to get close to the stage. It’s incredible. Everyone is so happy today, wearing their Springsteen t-shirts and cowboy hats. I’ve never been to see him but I feel the Boss has really created a huge party feeling in Drumcondra tonight and we’re really busy, so we can only thank him.”
Hollywood actor Luis Guzman (Photo by Steve Humphreys)
Actor Luis Guzmán, who stars in Netflix hit, Wednesday as Gomez Addams, was one of thousands of fans at the concert. He’s currently filming the show in Co Wicklow. American singer-songwriter Nick Jonas was also seen enjoying Springteeen’s hits at Croker.
Bruce Springsteen fans Caithriona McGilp from Portobello Dublin and Niamh Byrne from Rathfarnham at Croke Park for the final Bruce Concert.
Photo by Steve Humphreys
19th May2024.
The New Jersey rocker – who turns 75 in September – opened his Dublin gig with the song Lonesome Day, to the adoration of screaming fans.
The barn-storming three-hour performance at Croke Park marks his 35th Irish concert over the past 39 years.
And, it follows sell-out concerts in Belfast, Kilkenny and Cork over the past fortnight.
Die-hard fans have ranked Springsteen’s Belfast, Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin performances as amongst his finest in Ireland.
And privately, it’s understood he has reassured his Irish friends that the Dublin gig is not a goodbye.
Springsteen joked during his stay that he now considers Ireland to be like “an adopted home”.
The rocker based himself in Dublin for the majority of his Irish stay over the past fortnight, meeting up with friends, visiting his favourite Dublin pubs and even twice savouring fish and chips from Leo Burdock’s outlet in Christchurch which he first visited in 1989 during his ‘Tunnel of Love’ tour.
Bruce Springsteen fans Catherine Gannon from Castlebar Co Mayo and Mary Payton from Moycullen Co Galway at Croke Park for the final Bruce Concert.
Photo by Steve Humphreys
19th May2024.
The Boss also popped into Sheehan’s Pub on Chatham Street and McGrattan’s Bar on Fitzwilliam Lane to socialise with friends.
Whereas Springsteen opened his 2023 European tour in Barcelona with celebrity friends including US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as well as Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, this year he opted to bring extended family and friends with him to Ireland.
Amongst the Springsteen entourage was his son, his sister Pam, and friends from Colt’s Neck and Freehold in New Jersey.
Several members of the E Street Band were also accompanied by family and friends.
Pam Springsteen, a keen photographer, took to the stage at some of the Irish concerts to shoot footage of diehard fans in the mosh pit – jokingly urging them to cheer louder before the gig commenced.
She is working as a tour photographer.
A special family night was organised at the Stella cinema in Rathmines – and the Boss also delved further into his Irish ancestry, sharing his Irish links with his New Jersey family.
The singer was said to have been deeply moved by personal briefings last year on his family links to Kildare – and even visited a local graveyard where several of his ancestors were buried.
He also linked up with long-time friends while in Ireland – and even took time to personally meet Victoria Mary Clarke, the widow of Pogues’ singer Shane MacGowan, after playing a tribute to the Irish star through a cover of his song, ‘Rainy Night In Soho,’ at both the Kilkenny and Cork concerts.
Springsteen met with Shane MacGowan at his home last year after being told The Pogues star was seriously ill.
Tonight’s Croke Park gig is the seventh sell-out concert The Boss has played in Ireland over the past 12 months.
Bruce Springsteen hat seller Liam Fitzgerald from Dublin City Centre at Croke Park for the final Bruce Concert.
Photo by Steve Humphreys
19th May2024.
Fans had worried that the four-gig visit might prove a swan song for the veteran rocker and his band in Ireland.
However, Springsteen vowed to fans that he would “see you down the road.”
Privately, he told friends he hoped to return to Ireland in the future and that the E Street Band will remain on tour with several exciting projects already in the pipeline.
The band could potentially visit Australia and New Zealand in 2025 – with the possibility of a return European tour the following year.
Springsteen’s ticket sales in Europe are now higher than in many US cities, particularly those outside his core east coast fan base.
The singer has enjoyed private holidays in Ireland over the years and has visited both to help purchase horses for his daughter, US Olympic show jumper Jessica Springsteen and to cheer her on at the Royal Dublin Society Horse Show in competitions.
His daughter was part of the US show jumping team that took a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Springsteen’s fondness for Ireland stems in part from his Irish ancestry – with The Boss also displaying a notable connection to the Netherlands and Italy where he also has roots.
Since he played his debut Irish concert at Slane Castle in June 1985, Springsteen has never omitted Ireland from any of his European tours.
Along with Italy, Spain and Sweden, his fastest selling concerts are now always in Ireland.
Fan asks for a Santa song – 222 days to Christmas – at Bruce Springsteen’s concert in Cork
Ticket sales for Irish gigs by The Boss now even rival demand in his native New Jersey.
Promoter Peter Aiken admitted that such is the passion and loyalty of Springsteen’s Irish fan base that several other concerts would likely have sold out as well.
Over his 39 years of performing in Ireland, Springsteen has now played to in excess of one million ticketed fans.
In just the past fortnight, he has performed before almost 200,000 fans – with the Irish leg of his European tour delivering a regional tourism bonanza with an estimated 30,000-plus overseas fans travelling to various Irish cities from across North American, Europe, Australia and even Japan just to hear The Boss and the E Street Band.
The Boss departs Ireland tomorrow for the UK with the next concert of his European tour in Sunderland on Wednesday.
Bruce and the band then head to France, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway before jetting back to the US for North American gigs between August and November.
Ireland is also expected to feature heavily in a forthcoming Hulu and Disney documentary on Springsteen’s 2023/24 world tour.
The documentary, to be directed by long-time Springsteen collaborator Thom Zimny, is expected to stream next October and it will feature exclusive footage from the tour preparations and some of the major concert venues.
