Bruce look-alike competition, talks, tours and top music at Kildare's first ever Féile Springsteen
A cultural tribute and celebration of Bruce Springsteen’s links with Rathangan on August 22
The inaugural Féile Springsteen is set to celebrate The Boss with a variety of events including a Bruce lookalike competition, historical talks and tours, and of course top class music.
A cultural tribute and celebration of Bruce Springsteen’s links with Rathangan takes place on Saturday, August 22, marking a historical day for the town.
Rathangan is twinned with Bruce’s hometown of Freehold, New Jersey and this event is being organised by the Rathangan Freehold Twinning Association. This one day festival begins at 11am with a talk on Ann Garrity, Bruce’s great-great grandmother. It follows her journey from Rathangan to Freehold and the family’s story up to recent times. This talk takes place in the library and places can be reserved on 045-528078 or email [email protected].
A display of memorabilia will also be on display in the library until 3pm. At 2pm, there will be a Springsteen movie in the RYARC Community Centre followed by a walkabout of Ann Garrity’s Rathangan guided by local historian, Larry Fullam at 4pm.
The Bruce lookalike competition takes place in The Burrow at 7pm. This competition is open to all age groups with a prizes for the best Bruce Springsteen.
"The Burrow featured in the now famous viral video clip of Bruce singing My Hometown with a group of very fortunate and starstruck locals on his visit there in 2023,” said twinning association, Sheila Knightly.
"The day finishes with a musical celebration kicked off by local band Hot Cross Dunnes, followed by Springsteen tribute band The Human Touch in the Village Pump. This event is strictly over 18’s.”
The committee would like to thank Kildare County Council and Bord na Mona for their support.
"We also greatly appreciate the support of our friends in Freehold NJ especially Mayor Kevin Kane, Glenn Cashion (Bruce’s cousin and also a descendant of Ann Garrity) and also Bob Santelli of The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music,” added Sheila.
Admission to the gig is €15, tickets available on Eventbrite and at the venues on the day. All events during the day, including an art exhibition in Ma’s Kitchen by An Scrioblail Collective and Freehold Art Group are free of charge.
"It promises to be a very exciting event with some surprises on the day. Any queries on this event, please contact rathangantwinning @gmail.com, all details subject to change. We look forward to welcoming Springsteen fans from Ireland and abroad to this inaugural festival,” she concluded.
Ann Garrity was 14 years-of-age when she left Kiltagh, Rathangan, Co. Kildare in 1852 with her two sisters, Catherine (12) and Eliza (10). On November 8, 1853, they arrived on the S.S. Arctic into the port of New York and went to join their father and brothers in Freehold, Monmouth, New Jersey.
Ann later married Patrick Farrell and died on October 3 1923 and is buried at St. Rose de Lima cemetery. Her daughter, Jane Jennie (Farrell) McNicolas was born 18 December 1875 and died 01 December 1961. She was the granddaughter of Christy Geraty and Catherine Kelly, the daughter of Ann Geraty and Patrick Farrell, and is the maternal great grandmother of Bruce Springsteen. She married John McNicholas in 1897. Their daughter Alice Helena (Lena) 1899-1965, was the grandmother of Bruce.