Bob Dylan Performs ‘Lakes of Pontchartrain’ For 1st Time Since 1991

On Sunday, Bob Dylan began a two-night stand at Gleneagle Arena in Killarney, Ireland, the penultimate stop on the Fall 2025 European leg of his Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour. The singular singer-songwriter offered a cover of the traditional, “Lakes of Pontchartrain,” on night one in Killarney.

Dylan’s Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour has seen him debuting or breaking out tunes related to the cities he’s playing in. While “Lakes of Pontchartrain” is set in Louisiana, the song was popularized by Irish folk band Planxty. Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady, who performed with Planxty, also recorded the song in 1978. Additionally, Brady recorded an Irish-language version of the song, “Bruach Loch Pontchartrain.”

Another connection lies in the tune itself. The most popular versions of “Lakes of Pontchartrain” use the melody from, “Lily Of The West,” which also has deep connections to the British Isles. A well-known connoisseur of Celtic music, Bob Dylan performed “Lakes of Pontchartrain” frequently between 1988 and 1991. Before the Killarney performance, which closed the concert, Bob last played the song on July 6, 1991 in New Hampshire, as per BobDylan.com.

Listen to Bob Dylan play “Lakes of Pontchartrain” for the first time in nearly 35 years via nightly moth below: