Rathowen Gathering wants Springsteen

The Rathowen Gathering has officially invited Bruce Springsteen, whose great-great grandmother was born and raised in the town, to go along.

Rathowen welcomes back all its descendants from over the generations, and hopes to present Mr Springsteen with his great-great grandmother’s birth certificate at the Rathowen Community Hall - the grounds where she would have attended school as a child.

The organisers say the Rathowen Gathering is “your party”. It is a Gathering Ireland event open to everyone; and will celebrate the people of Rathowen, past and present.

And it is in that spirit that Rathowen has officially invited the American rock legend.

The Rathowen Gathering Museum will exhibit photos and footage from Rathowen’s past and present; and celebrate the town’s links to Bruce Springsteen among other famous Irish descendants.

All aspects of Irish culture will be relished, and there will be trad music on the outdoor street stage, seanchais and ceili bands in the town’s bars, and even a stage for famous local playwrights.

The Rathowen Gathering is a free event, taking place from 2pm until late on Saturday August 31.

“Come and enjoy Rathowen as you wander from one festivity to the next, and you can always say you were there the day The Boss came to town!” say the organisers.

www.therathowengathering.com
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* This article was amended on Monday June 24 to remove the mistaken reference to Saturday August 31 being part of a bank holiday weekend, on the request of the Rathowen Gathering committee.