Springsteen The 'Tie That Binds' Freehold and Rathangan In Ireland

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Borough Council is cementing yet another connection with native son Bruce Springsteen in approving a "Twinning Agreement" between the borough and the Irish town of Rathangan, County Kildare, the place of the musician's Irish roots.

The meeting of the Borough Council Monday night could not have been of more good cheer and mutual admiration as representatives from the community in Ireland were presented with the key to the city by Mayor Kevin A. Kane after a weekend of festivities, including being honored guests of the borough's St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday.

"This is a lifelong connection," Kane said.

In turn, the borough received its own mementos of Rathangan, including an object made of bog oak immersed for thousands of years brought to an incredible, artistic new life - polished and bearing the cross of St. Brigid, the patron saint of Kildare, the delegation said.

One of the members of the delegation from Ireland said they "were so grateful for the welcome and had the best time" during their visit to Freehold. They hope to repay the hospitality when borough officials visit there.

And state Sen. Vin Gopal, 11th District, along with Assemblypersons Luanne M. Peterpaul and Margie Donlon also sponsored a resolution in which the New Jersey Legislature itself recognized the connection, Kane noted.

The borough resolution outlines some of the remarkable connections between the two communities, separated now only by an ocean but joined in heart:

"Rathangan is a small town of 3,263 people in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, and is a big commuter base for people working in Dublin, just as many Freehold Borough residents commute to New York City," it reads.

"World renowned musician Bruce Springsteen was born and raised in Freehold Borough, and his great-great-great-grandfather on his father's side, Christopher Garrity, hailed from Rathangan, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. His great-great-grandmother, Ann Garrity, left Ireland at the age of 14 and moved to Freehold in 1852, settling the family at 87 Randolph St., which is the same house where Springsteen lived for several years almost a century later."

The resolution continues that Springsteen "is the tie that binds" the Borough of Freehold and Rathangan and County Kildare together.

Springsteen calls Freehold Borough his "hometown," as his ancestors and relatives called Rathangan their "hometown."

The resolution continues to note that the borough is opening the "My Hometown: The Bruce Springsteen Story Center (to be located at the firehouse at 49 W. Main St.), which will "feature exhibits about his ancestral heritage, growing up in Freehold Borough and early days of performing, providing fans another site to visit and appreciate his journey."

And the Borough Council resolved to honor the agreement "by building on and maintaining friendly relations, along with nurturing and developing a mutual understanding and respect with the residents of Rathangan and County Kildare."

Springsteen has started a world tour with the E Street Band March 19, but he will be back in home territory for the Sea Hear Now two-day rock music festival in Asbury Park. Springsteen and the E Street Band and folk-pop star Noah Kahan will headline the event, which is held at the Asbury Park beach and Bradley Park on Sept. 14 and 15, according to a past Patch article.