Bruce made my Hope & Dreams come true
Meeting hero was on Charlie’s bucket list
CHARLIE BIRD said he was “blown away” after achieving his “final wish” by meeting Bruce Springsteen on Friday night.
The broadcasting legend, who is terminally ill with Motor Neurone Disease, got up close and personal with The Boss backstage at the RDS before his sell out gig.
Charlie, 73, previously told how he hoped to meet his music idol, despite his declining health, to tick off the last thing on his bucket list.
And if he thought getting a backstage pass was good his night was about to get a whole lot better with the US rocker paying a touching tribute to him during his set. Springsteen, also 73, told the rapturous crowd he was dedicating his performance of Land of Hope and Drams to “my friend Charlie Bird”.
The Born to Run singer declared: “This one is for my friend Charlie Bird” before belting out the hit to applause and cheers and receiving a standing ovation for the gesture.
Charlie previously said: “I want Land of Hope and Dreams at my funeral.
“This is mad , but I go to sleep nearly every night playing this song, along with ‘The Parting Glass’.”
He took to Twitter on Saturday morning to express his gratitude and
Bruce signs the Windmill Lane wall
Bruce in Dublin describe the experience. Charlie wrote: “Last evening I was blown away to meet Bruce Springsteen backstage before the concert.
“We had a couple of hugs and I used my voice app to talk to him. Then he dedicated Land of Hope and Dreams to “my friend Charlie Bird” O God Bruce is a great human. “My final wish has happened.” Meanwhile, The Boss charmed staff at one of Dublin’s most iconic chippers.
The owner of 110-year-old Leo Burdock shop in Christchurch said
Bruce at with staff at Leo Burdock
Bruce had become a regular over the years and was a “genuinely nice guy”.
Charlie Mcgrachan, who took a photo of the American legend with his staff, said: “When he comes to town, over the last 10 or 12 times, we’ve managed to get him in.
“He’s such a nice guy. He’s great with any of the regular staff.
Springsteen delighted fans in Dublin’s RDS with a three-and-a-half hour set of his greatest hits.
Amongst the hordes of fans taking in the show were DJ Dave Fanning, author Roddy Doyle, rugby star Keith Wood and Shane Macgowan’s wife Victoria.
The Boss will returns to the RDS tonight for the second of his three sold out shows, before a finale on Tuesday.
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Bruce fans outside the Merrion in Dublin