Bruce Springsteen to blame as candidate calls time on campaign

Bruce Springsteen may have inadvertently robbed Co Clare of a future political leader.

Kilrush local election candidate Joe Coughlan (Ind), who famously presented the Boss with a giant-size Irish passport during his sold-out Thomond Park concerts in July of last year, has decided to call time on his election campaign, after meeting with Springsteen in Nashville last week.

Mr Coughlan originally announced his decision to run for a seat on Clare County Council in February of this year. Launching his campaign, he said it was time for him to either "put up or shut up" and said that he was "tired of seeing people running [for election] again and again".