Bruce Springsteen Sends Surprise Video Message to Rathangan for Festival

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen surprised the County Kildare town of Rathangan with a special video message broadcast during the inaugural Féile Springsteen festival. The festival celebrates the musician’s deep ancestral roots in the community, tracing back to his great-great grandmother Ann Garrity’s 1853 departure aboard the SS Arctic.

Bruce Springsteen Surprises Rathangan With Video Message

The inaugural Féile Springsteen kicked off with an unexpected greeting from the legendary musician himself. Attendees gathered in the local library were played a recorded clip from Springsteen, who sent direct wishes to the County Kildare community.

“I want you all to have a great great celebration. Sending all my love and I hope to see you soon. God bless everybody, have fun.”
Bruce Springsteen, via Kildare Now

Organized by the Rathangan Freehold Twinning Association, the festival celebrates the formal twinning established between Rathangan and Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, in 2025. The day’s schedule included historical tours, art exhibitions, film screenings, and musical performances dedicated to the artist’s enduring connection to the area.

Tracing the Roots of Ann Garrity

The festival’s morning events focused heavily on family history.

The lecture explored the Irish side of the Springsteen family tree, detailing the journey of Ann Garrity. At just 14 years old, Springsteen’s great-great grandmother left Rathangan alongside her younger sisters aboard the SS Arctic to join relatives living in Freehold, New Jersey.

Guided Tours and Local Exhibitions Across Town

Following the morning lectures, the festival pushed out into the town itself. Noted historian Larry Fullam led a guided walking tour titled Ann Garrity’s Rathangan, transporting participants back to the year 1853. The tour stopped at landmarks familiar to Garrity, including the Grand Canal where her father worked, the Rath, and the church where she was baptized.

Visual arts and cinema also anchored the celebration. Ma’s Kitchen hosted an all-day art exhibition showcasing works from the Freehold Art Group and the An Scríobhláil Collective. Meanwhile, fans gathered at the RYARC Centre for a special screening of a Springsteen-themed film.

Tribute Bands and Evening Celebrations

Festival activities extended well into the evening. Events included a Bruce Springsteen look-alike competition alongside opportunities for fans to recreate scenes from Springsteen’s actual 2023 visit to Rathangan at The Burrow.

Bruce Springsteen Sends Surprise Video Message to Rathangan for Festival — Photo: Kildare Live

The headline musical event featured The Human Touch, recognized as Ireland’s first dedicated live tribute band to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Performing an outdoor concert at The Village Pump, the tribute act was supported by local Rathangan group Hot Cross Dunnes, with admission priced at €15.