Bruce Springsteen surprised 28,000 fans in Kilkenny by launching his Sunday (May 13) night gig with a moving tribute to his late friend, Shane MacGowan.

The Boss headlined Nowlan Park with the E Street Band and kicked off his set with a heartfelt rendition of the Pogues classic, A Rainy Night in Soho, in memory of the Irish group’s frontman.

In response, the group wrote on X: “Lovely tribute to our boss, thanks Bruce.”

MacGowan died of pneumonia last November, aged 65, after months of battling ill health, during which time Springsteen visited him in hospital during the Irish leg of his world tour.

Upon his passing, the rocker shared a tribute online, writing: “Shane was one of my all-time favourite writers.

“The passion and deep intensity of his music and lyrics is unmatched by all but the very best in the rock and roll canon.

“I was fortunate to spend a little time with Shane and his lovely wife Victoria the last time we were in Dublin. He was very ill, but still beautifully present in his heart and spirit.

“His music is timeless and eternal. I don’t know about the rest of us, but they’ll be singing Shane’s songs 100 years from now.”