Pictures: Dancing in the Páirc as Bruce Springsteen rocks Cork despite thunderstorm
Bruce Springsteen in concert at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A THUNDERSTORM and heavy rain did not dampen spirits for Bruce Springsteen’s eagerly anticipated SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh show.
Fans queued ahead of time dressed in United States flag bandanas with ponchos in their pockets and they were soon dancing in the rain as the 74-year-old sang many of his hits including 'Born to Run', 'Dancing in the Dark' and 'Hungry Heart' in a performance that will be long remembered on Leeside.
Lightning in the skies was followed by some 'Thunder Roads' before the concert as heavy traffic rumbled in the city centre and roads surrounding Páirc Uí Chaoimh as over 40,000 people made their way to the stadium with long delays.
However, neither this nor the weather affected the jubilant atmosphere at the Páirc with Cork fans eager to show their appreciation for The Boss as he launched into a rendition of the John Fogerty song 'Who'll Stop the Rain' after the concert start was slightly delayed.
After playing a request for 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town', Bruce said “Only in Cork!”
ITS CHRISTMAS IN MAY!! (Well it is in Cork!!)
— Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_) May 16, 2024
BY SIGN REQUEST!! SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN TOUR DEBUT!!🎅🎸🎷🙌🏻
Thank you Eric Penzer via Spring-Nut Facebook Page!!@springsteen #SpringsteenTour2024 #Springsteen #estreetband pic.twitter.com/jiRZUgkBSy
Norah, Leona, Marcus and Jonathan O'Sullivan from Mallow had brought a cardboard cutout of Bruce in a Cork jersey, and a sign quoting the lyrics from 'My Hometown'.
Top of the queue for entry was an excited 16-year-old Seanán McQuillan from Crosshaven, who was attending the show with mum Antoinette and sisters Estelle and Ava.
Chris 'Coup' Couper from Watford has been to 67 shows, but “that’s only baby numbers”, compared to others he said, explaining he keeps going back because,
“I’m not worried about the rain – I’ve been in worse than this".
Neil and Ciara McSweeney from Millstreet agreeid, saying “we saw him in the rain in the RDS and he was still amazing – he’s only getting better, age is just a number for him”.
Sisters Concepta, Aishling, Caroline and Catherine Gillick from Cavan have been to every concert Bruce has played in Ireland, and say that since a 1985 show they went to, despite getting older “he’s only gotten better”.
Friends Jacquie Leonard and Mary Dillon from Clonakilty have been to four Bruce shows together and many apart, with Mary explaining, “I saw Bruce in New Jersey in 1985 and it was an amazing gig, ever since then, I’ve really loved him – his music, the connection he has with the crowd, just everything about him”.
Jacquie added, “I love how he has adapted his singing to suit his voice as he ages,” saying that she hoped he played 'The River', the first song of his she ever listened to, back in 1980 when she was 14.
Oba Hiroki travelled all the way from Tokyo, and brandished a sign that read “Japan wants Bruce Springsteen,” lamenting the fact that Bruce has not played in his country since 1997.
Other fans had also made custom signs, such as Greg and Gill Comer from Scotland who brought a large Scottish flag with the lyrics “grab your ticket and your suitcase” from 'Land of Hope and Dreams' and Damien Coyle and Ronan Lawless from Tyrone, who joked that their handmade signs requesting their favourite songs “took longer than I’d like to admit” to make.
There were lots of families present, such as Jason and Dylan Noonan who had come from Tipperary for Dylan’s first concert ever, and father and son Jerome and James Maume from Ballintemple.
Jerome said that his son was learning to appreciate The Boss, explaining, “he’s more of a rap fan, but I’m educating him – Bruce is just the best live artist.”
Sunny Pavetic met her partner, David Quinn in the line for a Bruce Springsteen concert in Dublin in 2012, and moved from Croatia to Portlaoise to be with him, but they weren’t queuing together last night.
She had work before the concert and David was keen to get a good spot in the line, so he went without her.
Tom McCormack from Dublin and Brendan Fogarty from Baltimore were at Bruce’s 2013 gig in Cork too, and said “the Pairc has improved amazingly, the last time was just before the renovation and it was a muddy field”.
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