Bruce Springsteen is almost halfway through his four-date Irish tour, having played to delighted fans in Belfast on Thursday and Kilkenny on Sunday. He now moves on to Cork, where he will play Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Thursday, May 16th, before finishing up at Croke Park in Dublin on Sunday, May 19th. In the past year Springsteen will have sold 350,000 tickets in Ireland, and one million in total since his first concert in the country in 1985 at Slane Castle, Co Meath.
In a five-star review Stuart Bailie described the night in Belfast as “an immense show” and dedicated to lost friends and, as Springsteen put it, “things that leave us, and what remains”. For anyone heading to Cork on Thursday, here’s what you need to know.
[ Bruce Springsteen concert in Belfast: Tell us your verdictOpens in new window ]
[ In pictures: Bruce Springsteen’s No Surrender live show in BelfastOpens in new window ]
Can I still buy tickets for the show?
While the concert is officially sold out, there are some resale tickets available on Ticketmaster. The promoters advise only buying tickets from authorised sellers.
The ticket box office, located on Marquee Road (opposite the former Live at the Marquee site), will be open from 2pm on concert day.
The Music Quiz: Charli XCX has sampled a song by which blues great?
Soccer Mommy: ‘The whole thing with Liam Payne is really sad. The industry is very hard on people’s mental health’
Why are so many old rockers still touring? ‘It doesn’t matter how much money they have. Musicians live for the next gig’
Where is Páirc Uí Chaoimh?
The stadium is located in the Marina area of Cork city.
What time does the gig start?
The venue opens at 5pm and Springsteen and his band will be on stage at 7pm sharp. There is no support act and he is expected to play for three hours.
[ A million reasons why Bruce Springsteen keeps coming back to IrelandOpens in new window ]
What songs will he play?
Springsteen set lists can be unpredictable – he often picks a song from placards held up by fans and plays it. Here is what The Boss played in Kilkenny on Sunday:
- Solo acoustic pre-show set – This Hard Land
- A Rainy Night in Soho (The Pogues cover)
- Lonesome Day
- Candy’s Room
- Adam Raised a Cain
- Prove It All Night
- Darlington County
- No Surrender
- Seeds
- Ghosts
- The Promised Land
- If I Was the Priest
- Spirit in the Night
- Hungry Heart
- Nightshift
- Racing in the Street
- Man Standing
- Backstreets
- Because the Night
- She’s the One
- Wrecking Ball
- The Rising
1st encore
- Land of Hope and Dreams
- Born to Run
- Bobby Jean
- Glory Days
- Dancing in the Dark
- Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
- Twist and Shout
2nd encore
- I’ll See You in My Dreams
How do I get to the venue?
Concertgoers are encouraged to use public transport. Páirc Uí Chaoimhis not served particularly well by public transport and is about a 20-minute walk from Parnell Place bus station and Kent train station.
The 202 is the closest route to the stadium. The stop for Páirc Uí Chaoimh is in Ballintemple on the Blackrock Road (by the pharmacy). However, this is likely to be very busy in the run up to the concert.
Plan your journey online from anywhere in Ireland to the stadium on transportforireland.ie.
With traffic diversions due to be in place in the areas surrounding the venue, parking, drop-off or collections may not be possible.
Please check your ticket, it will have reference to a route colour code. There will be signage to direct patrons to the appropriate entrance. Follow the coloured route directions as indicated on your ticket:
- Yellow Route: Centre Park Road (Pitch and North Stand access)
- Red Route: Monahan Road (South Stand access)
- Blue Route: Monahan Road (Pitch and South Stand access)
Will roads be closed in the area around the venue?
Temporary road closures will be put in place as required before and after the show. For full details please check garda.ie.
What are the entry requirements to the venue?
Download your tickets from your Ticketmaster account to your iPhone wallet/Google Pay wallet in advance of show day. Screenshots or printouts of digital tickets will not be accepted.
No under-14s will be allowed entry to the standing/pitch area and will only be permitted in seating areas.
All under-16s must be accompanied by a person 18-plus. All under-14s must have seated tickets as they will not be permitted on the pitch/standing area.
Children under six will not be admitted. All people entering the stadium must have a valid ticket.
Can I queue early at the venue?
Early queuing is not permitted. Ticket holders are requested to respect the privacy of the residents and businesses in the local community.
What can I bring or not bring to the concert?
Prohibited items include flag poles, selfie sticks and sticks for banners. Umbrellas, professional cameras and recording devices (this will apply to cameras that have detachable lenses), bottles, glass vessels, cans, flasks, flares, laser devices, prams/push chairs, inflatable and folding chairs are also prohibited. Concertgoers are advised not bring a bag unless it is necessary. People without bags will be fast-tracked.
Can I leave and re-enter the venue throughout the day?
No. Once you leave the venue on the show day, re-entry will not be possible.
What’s the weather going to be like?
While showers and possibly thunder are predicted for early afternoon, it is set to be a sunny, warm evening with temperatures of about 18 degrees as Springsteen takes to the stage at 7pm. As it is an outdoor concert, dress appropriately for inclement weather.
Will there be a designated area for wheelchair users?
Yes. Please note space within this area is limited. Please check availability through ticketmaster.ie.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Our In The News podcast is now published daily – Find the latest episode here