200,000 fans at four sold-out gigs to be entertained by Bruce Springsteen

The US rocker – known as ‘The Boss’ – will play sell-out concerts in Belfast on Thursday (May 9), Kilkenny (May 12), Cork (May 16) and Dublin (May 19) as the second stop on his European tour.

Springsteen (74) played three sell-out and critically acclaimed concerts at Dublin’s RDS last May – and was so enthused by the response of his Irish and European fans he decided on a return.

Only Spain will rival Ireland for the total number of concerts played this summer by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician who is set to spend over three months in Europe.

The four concerts sold out within minutes when tickets went on sale last October. Concert organisers Aiken Promotions said Springsteen adores playing Ireland which he now considers something akin to “a second home”.

The Hungry Heart singer is intensely proud of the fact that he has Irish heritage.

He first played Ireland in June 1985 when he delivered a legendary performance at Slane Castle.

Many consider that Co Meath show to be one of the greatest rock performances ever witnessed in Ireland.

At the time, it was the largest outdoor audience ‘The Boss’ had ever performed for, and he appeared at the height of his fame following his 1984 blockbuster Born in the USA album.

Over the next four decades, he never omitted Ireland from any of his European tours – and even recorded an album at the 3Arena (then Point Depot) in Dublin as part of his Seeger Sessions tour.

Springsteen played concerts in Limerick, Belfast, Cork and Kilkenny in 2013 and so enjoyed the regional venues he vowed to make a return visit.

Peter Aiken – whose late father Jim brought Springsteen to Ireland for the first time in 1985 – said it will be a very special series of concerts over the next fortnight. “One million people in Ireland will have been to see him. It is phenomenal,” Mr Aiken said.

Aiken operations manager Shane Mates said the New Jersey rocker will play to almost 200,000 fans in Ireland over the next fortnight – 40,000 at Boucher Fields, Belfast; 29,000 at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny; 40,000 at Páirc Uí Chaoímh, Cork and 80,000 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Mr Mates urged fans to check their tickets to ensure they are attending the correct date, to allow plenty of time to arrive at the concert venues, to have e-tickets downloaded and stored before arrival at the venue and to either walk or use public transport.

Given the reliance on electronic tickets, concert-goers were urged to ensure their phones are fully charged before they head to the venue.

Springsteen opened his three-month European tour at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff last night.

Last summer, Springsteen delivered two energy-felled headline sets at British Summer Time in Hyde Park to thousands of adoring fans.

Later in the year, he had to postpone a number of tour dates in America due to being treated for peptic ulcer disease, which are open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach.

After a break, he returned to the stage in March and has played 11 shows in America before he kicked things off in Wales last night.

Earlier this year, it was announced the US rocker would make history as the first international songwriter to be awarded an Ivors Academy fellowship.

He will become the 27th person to receive the academy's highest honour during a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on May 23.

Meanwhile, NHS workers have been offered free tickets to an afterparty organised to take place following the sold-out Bruce Springsteen concert at Boucher Road Playing Fields.

Hungry Heart nights are the world’s only Springsteen-dedicated club nights and are run across the UK in a number of venues.

On Thursday, the official afterparty is at Limelight 2 starting straight after the gig and is on until late.

Tickets are available from hungryheartevents.com.

Some tickets will also be available to purchase on the door, but it’s recommended to purchase prior to arrival with tickets priced from £5 until £10.