Dub of the Year

Nice, and wouldn't this be a good time to announce U2 360 Tour 2011 dates in Dublin/Ireland?


It's the sweetest thing for Bono as he's crowned Dub of the Year

PRIDE: U2 frontman insists capital can be a world-beater again

Wednesday December 08 2010
By Caitlin McBride


POP star, peace broker, humanitarian -- and now The Dubliner of the Year.

After scooping most of the top awards around the world it's only fitting that Bono should be recognised in his hometown.

The U2 frontman will tomorrow be announced as the Dub of the Year in The Dubliner magazine -- to the surprise of.... well, no one.

Bono was floored with the title and said being named The Dubliner of the Year was the perfect way to wrap up the year.

"Dublin is a state of mind and a place. What's being a Dub?

"I don't know, but I am one and proud of it through and through.

Punkiness

"The messy head, all the earnest conversation, our spunkiness and punkiness, our sense of fun, the self-deprecating over-confidence.

"We are so many contradictions.

"Dubliner of the Year crowns a great year for me and the band, not everyone's experience I know.

"I'm feeling very blessed and grateful, and deep down in my gut, I know this city has what it takes to be a world-beater once again.

"It already is, in my head."

Editor of The Dubliner Paul Trainer said that he was the natural winner for the 2010 title.

"Bono has inspired many of the articles we have published over the last ten years. Wherever he goes, he takes a bit of Dublin with him and in the last year he has taken our city to every corner of the earth. He is a Dubliner who makes us proud to be The Dubliner," he said.

Famous Dubliners have come out in honour of the superstar to celebrate his newest accolade.

Former Dubliner of the Year Brian O'Driscoll is often considered one of the capital's best ambassadors, and he praised the iconic singer for staying loyal to his roots.

"No matter where he is in the world, whether on stage or meeting world leaders nobody is ever in any doubt that Bono is a Dubliner through and through," he said.

And Danny O'Donoghue from The Script, whose band has often been compared to U2, praised his hero as a success story which should be celebrated".

"Bono has got what most musicians search for all there life -- 'heart'. His belief changes others. He made it possible for Dubliners to dream, to think 'what if?'

"His belief and drive as a Dubliner got him to where he is today and we all need to be reminded that we drink the same water.

"So I congratulate Bono and say well done, keep flying the flag for Dublin and Ireland," he said.


Check out tomorrow's issue of The Dubliner, available every Thursday in the Herald, to find out all the details on Bono winning the title, and what 2FM DJ Dave Fanning, Gavin Friday, Senator David Norris, Mick Pyro, Niall Breslin of The Blizzards and Shane MacGowan have to say.

mcbride@herald.ie