Painting of Bruce Springsteen's childhood home unveiled last night in his ancestral home in Kildare

A painting of Bruce Springsteen's childhood home has been gifted to the people of Rathangan and was officially unveiled at the local library last night, Thursday, January 4.

In advance of the event, officers were elected to the Rathangan Twinning Committee. It is hoped Rathangan will be able to twin with the singer's hometown of Freehold New Jersey.

The painting of Springsteen's former home on 87 Randolph St in Freehold is by artist Susan Winter, and was commissioned by Bruce, his sister Virginia, and their cousin Glenn Cashion. Glenn presented the picture to the town during a visit last October.

Last night's event attracted headlines across the Atlantic with an article in Freehold New Jersey by Chris Jordan of Ashbury Press.

Mayor Noel Heavey, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, Councillor Anne Connolly and Mark Stafford at the unveiling of the painting last night 

The painting is signed by Springsteen and the twinning committee said it was a lovely gesture for the Rathangan community. The Kildare town is the ancestral home of Springsteen's family on his father's side. Ann Garrity (Bruce’s great-great-grandmother) brought a sapling with her from Rathangan when she emigrated and planted it in Freehold, New Jersey and 100 years later Bruce was the first member of his family to climb to the top of the tree.

The house and the tree no longer exist. The painting was created through the recollections of Bruce, Virginia and Cashion, who passed on the descriptions to Winter. According to Mr Jordan, Springsteen lived in the home until he was six, with his family and paternal grandparents.