Latest news with #IrishCitizenship
The Independent
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
U2 guitarist The Edge hails ‘monumental day' as he becomes Irish citizen
U2 veteran The Edge has described a 'monumental day' after becoming an Irish citizen. David Howell Evans, 63, was born in Essex in England to Welsh parents, but his family moved to Ireland when he was just a one-year-old. His Irish citizenship was conferred at a ceremony in Killarney, Co Kerry on Monday. Some 7,500 people will officially become Irish citizens across Monday and Tuesday. He described an 'amazingly joyful event'. 'For all of us, a monumental day,' he told RTE, wearing the distinctive hat he is known for, as well as an Irish flag badge on the lapel of his jacket. 'I'm a little tardy on the paperwork – I've been living in Ireland since I was one but the time was right and I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all it's doing. 'It's showing real leadership right now in the world and this couldn't have come at a better moment for me.' The Edge, a guitarist in U2, has been involved with the band since its formation in Dublin in the late 1970s, going on to win scores of music awards. U2 is also noted for speaking out with songs such as Sunday Bloody Sunday about the shooting of unarmed protesters in Londonderry in 1972 by British soldiers, New Year's Day which became associated with the Polish Solidarity movement and Pride (In The Name Of Love) in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. They also strongly supported efforts to secure peace in Northern Ireland with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The band played Sunday Bloody Sunday last month with a call to 'stop war' at the Ivors award ceremony. The performance came as the group became the first Irish songwriters to be awarded an academy fellowship at the 70th year of the awards ceremony, hosted at London's Grosvenor House.
BreakingNews.ie
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
U2 guitarist The Edge hails ‘monumental day' as he becomes Irish citizen
U2 veteran The Edge has described a 'monumental day' after becoming an Irish citizen. David Howell Evans, 63, was born in Essex in England to Welsh parents, but his family moved to Ireland when he was just a one-year-old. Advertisement His Irish citizenship was conferred at a ceremony in Killarney, Co Kerry on Monday. Some 7,500 people will officially become Irish citizens across Monday and Tuesday. He described an 'amazingly joyful event'. 'For all of us, a monumental day,' he told RTÉ wearing the distinctive hat he is known for, as well as an Irish flag badge on the lapel of his jacket. Advertisement 'I'm a little tardy on the paperwork – I've been living in Ireland since I was one but the time was right and I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all it's doing. 'It's showing real leadership right now in the world and this couldn't have come at a better moment for me.' The Edge, a guitarist in U2, has been involved with the band since its formation in Dublin in the late 1970s, going on to win scores of music awards. U2's Bono and The Edge (left) performs on stage at the U2 eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour. The O2 Arena, London. U2 is also noted for speaking out with songs such as Sunday Bloody Sunday about the shooting of unarmed protesters in Londonderry in 1972 by British soldiers, New Year's Day which became associated with the Polish Solidarity movement and Pride (In The Name Of Love) in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Advertisement They also strongly supported efforts to secure peace in Northern Ireland with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The band played Sunday Bloody Sunday last month with a call to 'stop war' at the Ivors award ceremony. The performance came as the group became the first Irish songwriters to be awarded an academy fellowship at the 70th year of the awards ceremony, hosted at London's Grosvenor House.
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
U2 guitarist The Edge becomes Irish citizen – after 62 years in the country
After decades of finely balanced procrastination, the U2 guitarist The Edge has officially become Irish. The 63-year-old British subject was conferred with Irish citizenship on Monday, 62 years after moving to Ireland in a step he said was 'long overdue'. U2 may be a symbol of Ireland, and The Edge's woolly caps may verge on national treasure status, but David Howell Evans had not been a citizen until now. 'I'm a little tardy with the paperwork,' he told reporters after a conferring ceremony in Killarney, County Kerry. '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.' Evans was born in England to Welsh parents but has considered himself Irish – and Ireland his home – since he was a toddler. He formed U2 in 1976 with three Dublin classmates – Paul Hewson, better known as Bono, Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton – and went on to record Sunday Bloody Sunday and other songs that became Irish anthems. Evans, however, never got around to applying 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,' he said. Wearing an Irish tricolour clip, Evans swore an oath of loyalty and fidelity to the Irish state with hundreds of other newly created citizens in the Gleneagle arena – one of several back-to-back ceremonies that will confer citizenship on 7,500 people on Monday and Tuesday. He said the ceremony had been very moving and especially significant for him because of Ireland's support for multilateral organisations, such as the international criminal court and the UN, and for 'speaking truth to power'. 'I have always felt Irish, Ireland will always be home to me and I'm so grateful for that,' he said. Ireland was showing real leadership in the world, he said. '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.' Critics of U2 say the band's tax arrangements, which route some income not generated in Ireland overseas, undermine its commitment to the country. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion The 7,500 applicants at the Kerry ceremonies come from more than 143 countries, with the biggest number from Indiawith 1,888, followed by Brazil with 817, the UK 516, the Philippines 480, Romania 470, and Poland 396. They include shop assistants, meat plant workers and financiers. The minister for justice, home affairs and migration, Jim O'Callaghan, said the ceremonies were milestones that would connect the new citizens to their adopted homeland. He said: '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.' His comments came amid a growing backlash against immigration in the US and Europe, including Ireland and Northern Ireland. Thousands of protesters attended a rally in central Dublin on Sunday, some holding banners saying 'Ireland is full', others with caps saying 'Make Ireland Great Again'.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
U2's The Edge becomes Irish citizen after more than 60 years
U2 guitarist David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, has become an Irish citizen at a ceremony in County 63-year-old was born in Essex in England, and is the child of Welsh parents, but has lived in Ireland since he was a tricolour clip on his lapel, the musician had Irish citizenship conferred on him in Killarney and said it was a "a monumental day" for all is among about 7,500 people who are making a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the Irish state and becoming Irish citizens on Monday and Tuesday. 'The time is right' "I'm a little tardy with the paper work," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ."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."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."Last month, it was revealed that U2 are back in the studio making new music, after a gap of eight four-piece had been on an extended break, as drummer Larry Mullen Jr recovered from neck was a founding member of the group, which was formed in Dublin in the 1970s.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Citizen Edge: U2's English-born guitarist conferred with Irish citizenship in Kerry ceremony
David Howell Evans – better known as The Edge and the guitarist in rock band U2 – was among thousands of new Irish citizens conferred at a ceremony in Co Kerry . Born to Welsh parents in Essex, Evans (63) has lived in Ireland since he was an infant but never got around to applying for citizenship until recent years, despite always considering himself Irish. 'I have always felt Irish, Ireland will always be home to me and I'm so grateful for that,' he said. Sitting in one of the front rows at the citizenship ceremony in the Gleneagle Arena in Killarney and wearing an Irish Tricolour clip on his lapel, the famous guitarist smiled throughout and shook hands with those around him after taking the oath of allegiance. READ MORE He described becoming an Irish citizen among 7,500 people who will be conferred over two days in Co Kerry as a 'very moving' experience and 'a monumental day' for all in attendance. The musician said his citizenship application was 'long overdue'. 'I'm a little tardy with the paperwork. I've been living in Ireland now since I was one years 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,' he said. The country was 'showing real leadership right now in the world', he said. '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. David Evans, aka The Edge, guitarist with U2, attending a ceremony in Killarney where he became an Irish citizen after living in Ireland for more than 60 years. Photograph: Anne Lucey The application was quite straightforward to complete, he said. '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,' he said. It felt 'more meaningful' because of 'what is going on in the world right now, what Ireland stands for – it's very powerful,' he said, referring to Ireland's support for the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. Applicants from more than 143 countries and across all 32 counties on the island will make a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the State and become Irish citizens over the two days. Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 and more than 206,000 people have been conferred citizens at ceremonies since then. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, who attended the Killarney ceremony, told those gathered that becoming a citizen was a 'great privilege' and 'comes with responsibilities and duties'. People from all walks of life became citizens on Monday, including more than 20 meat workers from Brazil who arrived in Ireland 16 years ago. Roberti Costa arrived in Co Cork to work in a meat factory in Charleville. He said he was 'happy' to be Irish now. His friend and fellow Brazilian Martina de Freitas Boneberg, who lives near Millstreet in Co Cork and is already an Irish citizen, has helped 22 people from the South American country secure their citizenship, assisting them with the language and paperwork. 'It's a big step for them to become Irish,' Martina said after the ceremony, surrounded by several very happy workers from a meat plant in Bunclody, Co Wexford. Gina London, a White House correspondent during the Clinton presidency, was among 224 citizens from the US to become an Irish citizen. 'I am thrilled. This is for me,' said Ms London, who became tearful during the ceremony. Alongside her was Monika Braja-Matuszewska who works in supermarket Lidl in Portlaoise. Originally from Poland, she has lived in Ireland for 10 years with her husband Míhal who became a citizen last year. 'We are both Irish now,' said a delighted Monika. Aarushi Sharma came to Ireland as a student from New Delhi in India in 2018 and stayed on. She works for a finance company in Dublin and has seen Ireland as her home since she arrived. Her husband Divyang Jain, from a neighbouring street in New Delhi, moved here in 2017 and he became a citizen last year. They had two weddings last year when they married one in Dublin and one New Delhi.
