The diva hardly ever takes to the stage as a consequence of self-confessed stage fright.
Barbra Streisand’s Irish gig was a washout and noticed individuals leaving (Picture: Photocall Eire)
When Hollywood icon Barbra Streisand took to the stage on the Oscars in March to pay tribute to Robert Redford, following his demise on the age of 89 in September 2025, social media was instantly abuzz with individuals asking if she was going to sing. As if she might learn their minds, the legendary diva broke into a number of bars of the title monitor from their film The Approach We Have been. The second was made all of the extra particular as a result of the icon so hardly ever performs stay as a consequence of self-confessed stage fright, so those that have seen her sing within the flesh actually bear in mind the expertise.
I had the privilege of seeing her on stage when she carried out her solely ever Irish live performance on July 14, 2007, in Castletown Home in County Kildare. An idyllic setting befitting of such a famous person. Tickets have been priced as excessive as €551.75, however demand was nonetheless enormous and the 17,000 rapidly bought out. I introduced my good friend, and as an enormous fan, I used to be very excited for the gig. I used to be additionally a realist. That was a dreadful summer time, and we had round 190 days of continuous rain within the build-up to the occasion. There have been a number of query marks as as to if it will be cancelled. Fortunately, it wasn’t.
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The venue additionally did not refill rapidly, and with minutes to go to the present, it turned obvious that most individuals hadn’t deliberate correctly and have been caught on the one street into the placement. Regardless of her diva status, Barbra really delayed the beginning of the present, during which she was accompanied by a 58-piece orchestra, to permit individuals to get there.
Because it continued to rain down all through the night, a number of individuals left as they have been depressing, chilly and moist – I ought to level out that is of their very own making for carrying the incorrect clothes. On the finish of the day, it was a Barbra Streisand live performance, but it surely was additionally outdoor, principally within the backyard of a mansion, after almost 5 months of rain. It was a rain poncho and boots sort present – not sequins and tiaras!
Specific reporter Fran Winston noticed individuals stroll out of a Brabra Streisand present (Picture: Fran Winston)
For her half, she was superb, and it’s nonetheless one of the magical reveals I’ve ever attended. I had a unbelievable seat very close to the stage and soaked up each second.
It was a elegant and trendy present, and her voice was immaculate. On the finish of the present, her husband, James Brolin, got here onto the stage and embraced her, and I am truthfully nonetheless not over it. It was a gorgeous second.
This did not cease the hundreds of people that stayed from complaining, nonetheless. The rain had turned the fields getting used as automobile parks into mud, and so they had problem getting out of the venue. In addition they complained about site visitors jams on the way in which in. They complained in regards to the climate situations. To be honest, all of this was out of the promoter’s fingers.
They principally blamed everybody besides themselves regardless of their very own lack of preparation and foresight, and the promoter was compelled to apologise and subject refunds to many. It is an ignominious legacy of what was a unbelievable gig, if solely individuals had bothered to arrange for the climate.
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