The Dublin Community Blog

The Clarence Hotel are currently exhibiting rock memorabilia that are going for auction in the Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square, New York at 5pm on April 21st. The beneficiary of the auction is the Music Rising – Instruments for the Gulf Coast organisation.

Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative continues to aid those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, churches and schools. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz.

The Clarence exhibition includes the following lots:

Lot 43 – Bob Dylan Handwritten Set List
Est: $1,000/2,000

Lot 125 – Madonna Signed Check
Est: $400/600

Lot 131 – Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box� MTV Music Award 1994
Est: $4,000/6,000

Lot 178 – U2 Signed Album Cover (Unforgettable Fire)
Est: $800/1,200

Lot 184 – U2 Drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s Concert Used Tom Drum
Est: $8,000/10,000

Lot 185 – Bono’s Trademark Irish Falcon Guitar
Est: $80,000/$100,000

Lot 187 – Bono’s Stage Worn Sunglasses
Est: $2,000/4,000

Lot 188 – The Edge’s Early U2 Jacket
Est: $4,000/6,000

And many more, including most of the U2 lots.

The auction can be followed online and registration and details can be found on Julien’s Auctions website.

The Clarence exhibition is on until Friday 6th at lunchtime. I visited today – if rock memorabilia is your thing, its definitely worth a visit. The catalogue is available for purchase for eur30.

Happy bidding!

Yesterday Bono was presented with an honorary knighthood by the British Ambassador, David Reddaway, at his Dublin Embassy residence.  Since the news of his knighthood was announced in December there has been a lot of discussion as to whether or not he should have been awarded it and if he should accept it.  I’m delighted he accepted it and in my opinion he thoroughly deserves the recognition for his tireless campaigning against global poverty and outstanding contribution to music. Because he is not a British citizen he cannot use the title “Sir”. No doubt he’ll be called by many other names!

Nice one Bono

U2.com

Irish Independent

CNN

I am a huge U2 fan, and am a particular admirer of Bono. However, two news stories regarding U2 caught my attention this week which led me to raise an eyebrow. The first one relates to an equity group, Elevation Partners of which Bono is a partner, taking an (approx) 40% stake in the Forbes group. I am somewhat puzzled by this move. I always figured Bonos loyalties outside music lay in fighting the cause for the less well off in this world. To me this seems a strange move.

Full article can be found here

The second story relates to the decision by U2 to move some of their business outside of Ireland. It seems that the tax-free income cap of €250k for artists resident in the republic is the catalyst for this move. Is this move a contradiction of their principles? Especially since Bono is so vocal in his urging the Irish government to increase their aid to developing countries.

Full article can be found here

It’s happened! It’s happened so fast, I hardly realised that it was that time of the year, but, yes, it must be, the sky is grey, the clouds are low, and there’s rain in the air! It must be time for the annual Spanish Armada to dock in town, lead by it’s charge of deafening marchers, armed with their 90 word a minute mouths to deafen us, and a double pronged attack to blind us with their camera flashes, and, as with the rest of the fleet, bright luminous orange, yellow and green backpacks!

Ah yes, but, some have learned, some are now clever enough to dodge this first wave, only to then be caught up by the second front, approaching in a massive cloud of Marlboro smoke, ready to suffocate those not quick enough to move to the other side of the pavement.

Of course, crossing is all in vain, because those of you clever enough to make it to the other side of the street are going to be so pre-occupied watching the antics and the dress-sense of the rear gunners, the pretty, older guys and gals, who walk around with their hands in each others trouser pockets or with jeans so tight they have to be painted on, that you’re going to walk straight into the next oncoming car and be a gonner!

If you’re careful enough, you will spot them advancing from a distance, where you will cleverly dash into the nearest shop door and can take refuge in preparation to answer that eternal question….”Ola, si, eh, which way to the bono house!?”

Kids, be careful out there!

If you drive along the coast between Dalkey and Killiney you will discover a section of road with some of the most gorgeous views of Killiney Bay. It has been likened to Sorrento in Italy and you can spot road names like the Vico Road and Sorrento Terrace. This is the area that has also been dubbed the Beverly Hills of Ireland as it is home to many of Ireland’s rich and famous; Bono, Enya and Neil Jordan all have houses along this stretch.

For those brave souls who wish to take a dip in the Irish Sea to cool off while the summer is here why not try Whiterock Bay off the Vico Road. If you can brave the steep steps you will find a tiny gem of a Bay with a small area of sheltered beach and beautiful views of Bray Head and Dalkey Island. The rocks to the north are a popular spot for sea-anglers and there’s also an old mine entrance that can be seen when the tide is out where copper and lead were mined in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

I was there on Sunday and although it was quite busy the atmosphere was friendly, like we’d all found a well-kept secret, and there was plenty of space to lay down and get a bit of sun. Even though the wind was quite strong up on the Vico Road, by the time we got down to the beach we found it was very sheltered and warm. I didn’t brave the waters myself but those who did said it was gorgeous. As one swimmer said as he emerged from the waves, “if that doesn’t wake you up you’re dead!”

Google Bono is a new service from those nice people over at Stunned
We know that for a visitor to Dublin an important attraction is the possibility that they may see U2 frontman and international celebrity Bono.

The Bono Probability Positioning System version 2 Google Bono (beta) is a mashup utilising Dublin’s extensive surveillance camera network in conjunction with facial recognition software, Google Maps and advanced probabilty techniques to allow visitors to determine the probability of seeing Bono in any of the most probable locations in Dublin’s city centre in real time.

Today saw unplanned, unofficial strikes by train drivers on the main line between Dublin and Cork, as well as many commuter trains that operate in and out of Dublin’s Heuston Station to Kildare etc, causing commuting nighmares for up to 30,000 people on a dark, wet Monday morning. I’ve no doubt many of those people are still battling crazy traffic to try and make it home this evening.

Given the strike action is due to continue tomorrow, and has the potential to spread into most commuter rail services and DART services as time passes, anyone who can work from home, should seriously consider it, and people should start looking at alternatives for getting to work.

Of course, if you are going to be stuck on a bus for hours tomorrow, you should buy yourself a copy of The Independant as Bono will be editing it!

One of Dublin’s leading lights, U2′s front-man, Bono, is about to do something groundbreaking and unique. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 16th will see Bono becoming editor of The Independent (London Independent, not Irish!) for the day. Bono, who celebrated his birthday last Wednesday, will be using this opportunity to promote RED, his latest campaign “to shine a light on the issues affecting Africa and to raise money to help alleviate the continent’s Aids crisis”.

This one-off edition will include interviews with Stella McCartney and Giorgio Armani, photographs by Sam Taylor-Wood and a conversation between Bono and Eddie Izzard.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, is also going to be making a contribution. Given The Independent are contributing half of the cost of tomorrows papers earnings, go out and buy two copies, one to read tomorrow, and one to save for the future! It could also try and keep you sane as you try to battle traffic madness tomorrow!

April 13th represents the 100th anniversary of celebrated Irish Playwright, Novelist and Poet, Samuel Beckett. Beckett’s work is stark, fundamentally minimalist, and deeply pessimistic about human nature and the human condition, although the pessimism is mitigated by a great and often wicked sense of humor. His later work explores his themes in an increasingly cryptic and attenuated style. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969 and elected Saoi of Aosdána in 1984.

Last night saw the launch of the Beckett Centenary Festival in Dublin Castle, with many notable Irish poets, writers and dignitary’s present. Amongst those invited along to speak, was U2′s Bono, who is a self confessed Beckett fan.

Bono was invited to create a pastiche, on the invitation of Michael Colgan, chairman of the Centenary Festival. What resulted, and was delivered by the man himself last night is a work of pure genius. Bono’s humour and delivery through the 4 minute pastiche are a pure joy to listen to.

I suggest that you take a listen to the clip and enjoy, it’s pure genius!