Bruce Springsteen dedicated a song and shared a couple of hugs with terminally ill broadcasting legend Charlie Bird yesterday.
Charlie, who has Motor Neurone Disease, previously said he hoped to meet his musical idol, despite his declining health. Yesterday, his wish was fulfilled as he met Springsteen before the first of his three sold-out concerts at the RDS.
Then towards the end of the concert, the music legend made a poignant gesture as he performed ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ and told thousands of fans: “I’m dedicating this to my friend Charlie Bird.”
Read more: Bruce Springsteen 'The Boss' of RDS as he dazzles Irish fans
Charlie previously said he wanted ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ to be played at his funeral and that he goes to sleep nearly every night playing this song, along with ‘The Parting Glass’.
Bird took to Twitter this morning to express his gratitude and describe the experience. He wrote: "Last evening I was blown away brought to meet Bruce Springsteen backstage before 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.”
Springsteen, also aged 73, dazzled fans in Dublin’s RDS last night 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 be back at the RDS tomorrow for the second of his three sold out shows, before a rousing finale on Tuesday.
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