Charlie Bird says ‘my final wish has happened’ after Bruce Springsteen dedicates song to him at RDS gig

In recent weeks, charity campaigner Mr Bird, who is battling motor neurone disease, said the final item on his bucket list was to meet the New Jersey rocker.

Charlie had said he wants Springsteen’s ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ played at his funeral – the song his friend Daniel O’Donnell sang for him on top of Croagh Patrick at the end of the Climb With Charlie challenge last year.

During last night’s performance, Springsteen sang and dedicated ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ to Mr Bird, telling the crowd: “This one is for my friend Charlie Bird”, before receiving a standing ovation.

Reacting to the momentous personal experience on his Twitter page this morning, Mr Bird said he met the rock icon backstage before the concert and he was able to communicate with ‘The Boss’ through a digital speech app. He described Springsteen as a “great human”.

"Last evening I was blown away brought to meet Bruce Springsteen backstage before concert. We had a couple of hugs and I used my voice app to talk to him. Then he dedicated Land of Hope and Dreams to “my friend Charlie Bird” O God Bruce is a great human. My final wish has happened,” Mr Bird wrote.

Springsteen had Dublin rocking as he took to the stage for the first of three gigs at the RDS between Friday and Tuesday..

The ‘Born to Run’ singer hit the stage just after 7.30pm much to the delight of tens of thousands in attendance.

The New Jersey native donned a short-sleeved black shirt and black jeans alongside the E Street Band.

It’s expected close to 90,000 will attend his gigs in the next five days in Dublin. They will be serenaded with Springsteen’s classics from his decades-long career, including, Born to Run, I’m on Fire, Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark.

Stevie van Zandt of the E Street Band was pictured holding aloft a guitar bedecked in the colours of the Ukrainian flag as he played alongside Springsteen in the Friday evening sunshine.