Where’s Bruce? Springsteen born to run all over town

The Boss is in town, and if he’s yet to pay you a visit, you’re one of the unlucky few. The legendary American rock star has been spotted by fans all weekend as he explores Ireland in between his three gigs in the RDS. He’s been seen visiting old friends, at a recording studio, tracing his ancestral roots and at visiting some of Dublin’s finest pubs and chippers. With a whole week of Bruce Springsteen in Ireland, there’s no telling where he’ll turn up next. So where has he been spotted so far?

Shane MacGowan’s House

Springsteen paid Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan a visit at his Dublin home on Wednesday afternoon, where the legendary musicians are said to have had a wide-ranging chat. MacGowan’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, said on Twitter: “What an amazing honour and a beautiful experience to get a visit from The Boss! Such a truly wonderful man and a total genius!”

[ Bruce Springsteen at the RDS: stage times, set list, weather and more for The Boss’s Dublin concerts ]

[ Bruce Springsteen visits Kildare town to trace Irish roots ]

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Drummer Michael Cronin, of the band Cronin, also met the Boss alongside MacGowan. He said on Twitter they had “great chats about songwriting, children, health, diet, Irish, his Irish roots” and gave Springsteen a “rough mix” of a new album he is working on with MacGowan.

Windmill Lane

On Wednesday Springsteen was photographed at Windmill Lane Records, Ringsend, Dublin, where some of the biggest names in music have recorded including, U2, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Sinéad O’Connor – the list goes on. Springsteen added his signature the famous signature wall in Windmill Lane’s studio one, or more specifically, he picked a unique spot on the edge of the wall where only the Boss could claim.

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Rathangan, Co Kildare

He may have been Born in the USA, but this rock star has Irish roots. Nothing spells American tourist more than visiting their ancestral home and going straight to the pub. On Thursday morning, Springsteen paid a low-key visit to Rathangan, Co Kildare, where his great-great-great-grandfather, Christy Gerrity, a well-regarded fife player, grew up before emigrating to New Jersey in 1853 with his wife and eight children.

Sitting around the table with some locals, Springsteen sang an old hit My Hometown, the final song on his best-selling 1985 album Born in the USA – although much like Joe Biden’s recent visit, there was no Guinness in hand for Springsteen.

“Let me think how it went, I haven’t played it in a long time,” he said, beginning to find the right note and lyrics. Locals joined in for the chorus, singing “your hometown” in unison.

Springsteen was quick to quip: “You guys, I’m firing the E-Street band. I’m hiring you.”

The Born to Run star also visited a local youth group, the Creative Performance Academy, where he met schoolchildren who reportedly performed for the star.

[ Trip to Rome for Bruce Springsteen €200 cheaper than Dublin gig ticket and hotel, Dáil hears ]

Dublin walkabout

Some fans were lucky enough to spot Springsteen in his nonchalant cap on the streets of Dublin on Wednesday and Thursday, when he signed autographs and posed for photos. With his last gig on Tuesday night, it’s not unlikely to be the last we’ll see of Springsteen roaming about the capital city. Keep an eye out.

Charlie Bird gets his final wish

Broadcasting legend Charlie Bird, who has motor neuron disease, recently said it was on his bucket list to meet the star. Retaining his status as a gentleman, Springsteen met with Bird and his wife Claire prior to his first gig of the weekend on Friday.

“What a magical moment for me and my beautiful wife Claire,” Bird said on Twitter. “Bruce was so kind and a fantastic human. I played my voice app and I really believe we connected. I told Bruce Land of Hope and dreams was on my bucket list, and he said he would play it for me. And God he did. I love him.”

The Long Hall Pub

Seven years since the last time Springsteen stopped in for a drink in The Long Hall Pub on George’s Street, Dublin, the Boss returned on his day off between gigs. He enjoyed a pint with a Welsh man, according to the pub, with crowd’s gathered outside to witness the spectacle and snap a photo.

Leo Burdock’s Fish and Chips

On Saturday afternoon, Springsteen and the E Street Band stopped by another favourite of his, visiting Leo Burdock’s in Christchurch for some fish and chips. This was not the first time Springsteen has been partial to the famous chipper, with photographs taken with him at Burdock’s Christchurch in 2013. You’d almost call him a regular.

Trinity College Old Library

To complete his big day out in the capital on Saturday, where else for an American to visit then the famed Book of Kells. Springsteen was photographed by staff in the Old Library, no doubt impressed like many before him by the iconic architecture of the building.

As echoes of Springsteen’s open-air concerts reverberated across the city on Friday and Sunday night, and with the nation firmly in the throws of Springsteen-fever almost reaching Garth Brooks levels of excitement, it’s clear he has made his mark on Dublin this time around. The Irish Times is firmly on Brucewatch, so if you’ve spotted the Boss out and about, let us know.