Latest news with #MountTempleComprehensiveSchool
Metro
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
U2's Bono reveals he lived on airline food at 14 after death of his mother
Bono has revealed that he lived off instant mashed potatoes and airline food after his mother's death. The 65-year-old Irish singer was just 14 when his mother died of a sudden aneurysm while attending her father's funeral. The tragic event took place in 1974, and Bono revealed that his family struggled domestically after her sudden death. The U2 frontman told Ruthie Rogers – the owner of the London restaurant The River Cafe – on Ruthie's Table 4 podcast: 'My relationship with food changed, I just saw it as fuel as something to get done, I took no pleasure in it. 'Do you know what Cadbury's Smash is?' He then asked if he could read from his book. He detailed that he, his brother, and father struggled to cope without their mother, but coped by eating pre-made airline dinners made available because Norman worked at Dublin airport. 'He [Norman] had talked the company into allowing him to bring home surplus airline food, prepared for airline passengers. The meals were sometimes still warm when he carried them in their tinned boxes into our kitchen,' Bono read. He described the dishes, such as gammon steak with pineapple and lasagna, 'exotic,' but had 'an aftertaste of tin', which is what they ate routinely for at least six months. The singer also read what they would do before the airline food came into play, mostly eating out of cans. 'Most days I would usually return home with a tin of meat, a tin of beans and a packet of Cadbury's Smash [instant mashed potato].' He continued to read from the book: 'We used to buy a cheap fizzy drink called Cadet Orange because it had enough sugar to keep you going, but was so foul you wouldn't want anything else down your throat for hours. 'We drank it after I would spend my food money on things far more important, like Alice Cooper's 45 Hello Hooray.' Bono was a founding member of the Irish rock band, which formed in 1976 while they were attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. More Trending Across nearly five decades, U2 have released 15 studio albums and are one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold an estimated 150–170 million records worldwide. They've also won 22 Grammys, eight Brit Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. As a teenager, Bono began dating his future wife, Alison Stewart, who was also in the same year as his bandmate David Howell Evans, best known as The Edge. At school, Alison briefly dated The Edge, which Bono joked was still a sore subject between them. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Pete Davidson expecting first child with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt MORE: Nicki Minaj and SZA's feud explained after shocking 'dead dog' dig MORE: X-Men actor Shawn Ashmore shares heartbreaking tribute after murder of friend
Metro
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
U2's The Edge, 63, becomes Irish citizen after 62 years
A member of U2 has finally become an Irish citizen 62 years after moving there. One of the best-selling bands in the world, U2 was formed in 1976 while the members were attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. The line-up comprises frontman Bono, guitarist the Edge, bassists Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. The group – whose biggest hits have included singles like Sunday Bloody Sunday, With Or Without You and Beautiful Day – quickly became known for their politically and socially minded Irish anthems, as well as their activism off the stage. Despite being one of Ireland's most successful bands globally, it turns out the Edge (real name David Howell Evans) wasn't actually a citizen. But this week the musician confirmed he'd finally got around to applying to officially become Irish. The Edge, 63, was born in Barkin, Essex, the second child of Welsh parents Garvin and Gwenda Evans. Soon after Evans was born his father, who was an engineer, was offered a promotion which took the family to Dublin. Now, after 62 years living in Ireland, Evans has been granted Irish citizenship. 'I'm a little tardy with the paperwork,' he told reporters after a ceremony in Killarney, County Kerry on Monday. 'I've been living in Ireland now since I was one year old. But the time is right. And I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing.' Despite living in Ireland for most of his life, Evans explained why it took him so long to apply for citizenship. 'Honestly, there were many moments in the past when I could have done it with just the form to be filled out, but I'm happy it's now. It feels more significant and meaningful,' he said. Alana Anderson, Metro's Deputy Entertainment Editor: 'Like thousands of others, I applied for my Irish citizenship shortly after Brexit, so expected a long wait for my new passport to arrive. The process was slightly grueling, having never met my Irish grandfather, who died before I was born, digging out the birth and marriage certificates I needed for the foreign birth register was tedious to say the least. Due to my dual citizenship with Canada, my application was also frozen until I provided even more information about my previous immigration status. I feel incredibly fortunate to now have my citizenship, but the admin involved is a task in itself. I would highly recommend having your documents in order before starting the application for a smoother experience!' Pierra Willix, Senior Entertainment Reporter: 'I was lucky enough to be able to apply for citizenship for several different European countries through my grandparents, but with the Irish passport now being the strongest in the world, it was the obvious choice (and it was one of the countries I felt the closest connection with). After some of my cousins had a fairly straightforward (and quick) experience applying to get onto the Foreign Birth Registry and getting their passport soon after that, I had a more difficult time, mainly due to applying post-Brexit and then having my application repeatedly delayed during the pandemic. Despite having to wait much longer than anticipated, I am extremely grateful to now hold Irish citizenship, which has enabled me to move from Australia to the UK without any worries about visas.' Wearing an Irish tricolour clip, Evans also swore an oath of loyalty and fidelity to the Irish state with hundreds of other newly created citizens at the ceremony. 'I have always felt Irish. Ireland will always be home to me, and I'm so grateful for that,' he shared. 'It couldn't come at a better moment for me, so I am just so happy to be at this point to be in even deeper connection with my homeland.' Evans has previously spoken about using two different accents when growing up in the Irish capital. More Trending At home he would use a Welsh accent, while he'd use an Irish one when outside. 'The reason for this dual identity was mainly to be understood by my peers but also to be accepted,' he once explained. Over the years U2 has spoken out on issues including the shooting of unarmed protesters in Londonderry in 1972 by British soldiers with their 1983 song Sunday Bloody Sunday. They also threw their support behind efforts to secure peace in Northern Ireland with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Bad Company star Mick Ralphs dies aged 81 as bandmates pay tribute MORE: All the rumoured secret sets at Glastonbury 2025 from Pulp to Lewis Capaldi MORE: Surfing on the north coast of Ireland, I learned an important life lesson
Extra.ie
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
U2's The Edge becomes an Irish citizen
It was a proud day for U2 guitarist David Howell Evans, better known as The Edge, who officially became an Irish citizen during a naturalisation ceremony in Killarney, County Kerry, yesterday. Evans, 63, who was born in Essex to Welsh parents but has lived in Ireland since infancy, was among thousands to take the oath of allegiance at the event in Killarney on Monday. 'Becoming an Irish citizen could not have been more meaningful than the present time,' he said after completing the formalities and shaking hands with fellow new citizens. Speaking to RTE , Evans reflected on the significance of the moment. 'I'm a little tardy with the paperwork,' he joked. 'I've been living in Ireland now since I was one. But the time is right. And I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing.' The Edge, who co-founded U2 in 1976 with classmates at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, praised Ireland's position in global affairs. 'It couldn't come at a better moment for me, so I am just so happy to be at this point – to be in even deeper connection with my homeland,' he said. A total of 7,500 people from 143 countries, representing every county on the island of Ireland, were granted citizenship across a series of seven ceremonies held over two days. Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan, Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, and Minister of State for International Law and Youth Justice Niall Collins were all present at the event.
RTÉ News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Pride for U2's The Edge as he becomes Irish citizen
It was a beautiful day for U2 guitarist David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, who was one of thousands of people to become Irish citizens at a ceremony in Co Kerry. Mr Evans, 63, was born in Essex and is the child of Welsh parents, but has lived in Ireland since he was one year old. Smiling while sporting a tricolour clip on his lapel, and wearing his distinctive cap, the famous guitarist appeared to enjoy every moment as he was conferred in the second ceremony of the day in Killarney. "Becoming an Irish citizen could not have been more meaningful than the present time," he said, after shaking hands with those beside him following the oath of allegiance. Speaking briefly to reporters afterwards, he described becoming an Irish citizen with so many others as "a monumental day for all of us". "I'm a little tardy with the paper work. I've been living in Ireland now since I was one. But the time is right," he said. "And I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing." The guitarist, who helped form the iconic Irish rock band U2 in 1976 along with his classmates at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin said Ireland is showing real leadership right now in the world. "It couldn't come at a better moment for me, so I am just so happy to be at this point to be in even deeper connection with my homeland," he said. He refenced his country as showing leadership in the world, supporting international bodies like the International Criminal Court and the United Nations and "speaking truth to power". Applicants from over 143 countries and across all 32 counties on the island numbering 7,500 made the declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the State and were officially conferred as Irish citizens. In total, seven ceremonies are held over two days, with Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan joined by Minister of State with responsibility for Migration Colm Brophy and Minister of State with responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice Niall Collins. Speaking at the ceremonies, Minister O'Callaghan it was a "special and important occasion". "It is a great privilege to become a citizen of this country and obviously with it comes responsibilities and duties and I think everyone who is taking on citizenship will be aware of that," Mr O'Callaghan said.
Metro
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Bono addresses ‘sore' rumours of romance between his wife and U2 bandmate
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Bono has addressed rumours of a romance between his wife and bandmate. The U2 frontman – born Paul David Hewson – was a founding member of the Irish rock band, which formed in 1976 while they were attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. As a teenager he began dating his future wife, Alison Stewart, who was also in the same year as his bandmate David Howell Evans, best known as The Edge. They also went to school with Larry Mullen Jr., the band's drummer. Across the past 49 years, U2 have released 15 studio albums and are one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold an estimated 150–170 million records worldwide. They've also won 22 Grammys, eight Brit Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. But decades on, Bono has joked about suggestions his wife, 63, whom he married in 1982 and shares four children with, had a fling with The Edge. In the upcoming documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, he suggests his wife of 42 years and his bandmate were 'an item'. When interviewed on The Project about his comment on Sunday, he joked it was still a 'sore subject'. 'They were the two cleverest in their year,' he said of Ali and David, who were in the year below him. 'She did seem to be taking an interest in his guitar playing and, as hard as I might practice, I just knew I couldn't touch this guy. 'So, I had to become, you know, the class clown.' He then added: 'They're still really close – and they still talk about me behind my back. 'They say it's out of concern,' he added with a laugh. Bono went on to say there were certain people that he doesn't need to 'worry about' in his life because they are 'so consistent' and 'there' for him. 'Edge is one, Ali is another,' he said. Praising his wife, Bono said that her support and belief in him made him the musician he was today. 'If I believed in myself now, I probably wouldn't be sitting here. I'm really one quarter of an artist without Edge, Adam and Larry. I'm half of a person without Ali,' he added. The Edge married his high school girlfriend, Aislinn O'Sullivan in 1983, with the couple going on to have three daughters. They separated in 1990, with the guitarist then dating American professional dancer Morleigh Steinberg in 1993. They have two children together and were married in 2002. Bono: Stories of Surrender documents a 2023 performance by Bono at the Beacon Theatre in New York City during his one-man stage show Stories of Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music and Some Mischief…, which was done to promote his 2022 memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last week and received a seven-minute standing ovation. Bono and Ali, an activist and businesswoman, share children Jordan, 36, Eve, 33, Elijah, 25, and John, 22. In 2022 Bono described his now 43-year marriage as a 'relay race'. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, he revealed that Ali 'wanted to jump' after he became less present in their home life but his love for her helped overcome the 'dark waters' of their relationship. More Trending 'It's not like our love was absent any dark undercurrents or briny water, [but] we got each other through those bits where it was hard to see where we were. Ali calls it 'the work of love'. I wish she wouldn't use the word 'work' because I have a feeling there's an adjective, ''hard', that's inferred… 'If one of us got lost the other was going to get us back, that's kind of been the way it's been for us. I think in relationships somebody is in charge at some point, but you swap. It's a relay race. 'The significant thing about Ali was she was never going to be 'her indoors'. She was never going to be just my girlfriend, and she was never going to be just my wife. So, if I was home I'd better be present. And in the Eighties at some point, I was home, but I wasn't present. And that's when I think she wanted to jump.' Bono: Stories of Surrender is streaming from Friday on Apple TV Plus. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Lead singer of legendary 80s band announces shock departure on live TV MORE: Rock's most bitter break-ups as The Who axe drummer Zak Starkey again MORE: Glastonbury reveals line-up for another stage including chart-topping 80s legend
