Bruce Springsteen: Northern Ireland girl gets a hug from the Boss at Belfast gig

Ross McKee - BBC News NI
·2 min read
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A seven year-old girl from Northern Ireland was on cloud nine after a special greeting from Bruce Springsteen at his concert in Belfast.

Michelle Lavery has been to more than 50 gigs of the New Jersey rock legend.

But her daughter Farrah hit new heights of fan devotion as The Boss gave her a hug in front of 40,000 people at Boucher Playing Fields, during her first concert.

"It was a big night, I felt really special and excited," Farrah told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster.

"He [Bruce] came down and I gave him an 'I love you' sign and he said it back to me the second time he came down.

"He gave me a hug.

"I love him, I have been a fan for my whole life."

Farrah attended the concert with Michelle, her brother Finn and dad, Paul, as Springsteen and the E Street band opened a blistering set on Thursday night with No Surrender.

Social media videos showed the 74-year-old gifting a guitar pick to Farrah while performing Hungry Heart.

The European leg of the world Tour kicked off in Cardiff on 5 May and Belfast was its second show.

Springsteen's wife, Patti Scialfa's mum is from Belfast.

The Boss also has a wider connection to the island of Ireland, with the singer-songwriter's great-great-great-grandparents leaving Rathangan in County Kildare for New Jersey in 1853.

After the Belfast gig, Springsteen's next date is in Kilkenny at KK UPMC Nowlan Park on 12 May.

Then, he heads to Cork where to play SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, on 16 May; before going to Dublin where he is playing Croke Park on 19 May.

'Perfect storm'

Despite having seen Springsteen at various venues around the world over 20 years, Michelle said the Belfast gig was on another level.

"It was unbelievable, we could never have predicted this would have happened," she told BBC News NI.

"It was like the perfect storm, Farrah's first concert and a brilliant family experience.

"Bruce is always on in the car, I know it sounds a cliché but he is the soundtrack to our lives.

"I have travelled all over to see Bruce.

"A highlight was seeing him at Fenway Park in Boston in 2012 - that was special.

"But nothing beats seeing him in Ireland on home turf."

Farrah made her own bid for stardom on Friday morning, as she sang a segment of her favourite Springsteen song Sherry Darling to BBC Radio Ulster listeners.

But minutes later, she was back down to earth, heading to her school, St Anthony's Primary School, Craigavon, with Michelle who teaches there.

"Farrah has already had a visit from the principal this morning and everyone is talking about it," Michelle added.