Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Bob Dylan Revives 'The Lakes of Pontchartrain' in Killarney for First Time Since 1991

The Irish-standardized American ballad, revived by Planxty, made a fitting choice for the Killarney crowd.

Overview

  • Dylan performed the traditional song at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney on Sunday, November 23, closing the first of two shows there.
  • BobDylan.com records his previous performance on July 6, 1991 in Nashua, New Hampshire, after debuting the tune on June 7, 1988 in Concord, California.
  • Originating in the U.S. with references to New Orleans, the ballad became an Irish standard after Planxty’s 1974 recording, with notable versions also by Paul Brady.
  • The pick aligns with Dylan’s recent run of location-referent and surprise covers, including Leonard Cohen in Montreal and Muddy Waters in Chicago in 2023.
  • Fan audio and setlist reports circulated after the Killarney show, and the tour proceeds with a second night in Killarney before wrapping in Dublin.