Bruce made my Hope & Dreams come true

Meeting hero was on Charlie's bucket list

-  ANITA MCSORLEY

CHARLIE BIRD said he was "blown away" after achieving his "final wish" by meeting Bruce Springsteen on Friday night.

The broadcasting legend, who is terminally ill with Motor Neurone Disease, got up close and personal with The Boss backstage at the RDS before his sell-out gig.

Charlie, 73, previously told how he hoped to meet his music idol, despite his declining health, to tick off the last thing on his bucket list.

And if he thought getting a backstage pass was good his night was about to get a whole lot better with the US rocker paying a touching tribute to him during his set. Springsteen, also 73, told the rapturous crowd he was dedicating his performance of Land of Hope and Drams to "my friend Charlie Bird".