After 62 long years, U2‘s The Edge is finally an Irish citizen – see what the guitarist had to say about the “monumental day” below.
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On Monday, The Edge – born David Howell Evans in Essex – was officially granted his Irish citizenship despite having lived in the country for 62 years. He and his Welsh parents moved to Ireland when he was just one years old.
Sporting a pin of the Irish flag on his blazer after bring granted citizenship along with 7,500 other applicants over the course of two days, The Edge told The Journal reporters: “What an amazingly joyful event for all of us. A monumental day. I guess, you know, I’m a little tardy with the paper work. 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.
He continued: “It’s showing real leadership right now in the world and 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.” The Irish Times adds that the musician said his citizenship “long overdue”.
When asked why it had taken so long for him to attain his Irish citizenship, The Edge revealed that the process was “actually quite straight forward”: “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, it feels more meaningful.”
“Because of what is going on in the world right now. What Ireland stands for, it’s very powerful,” he went on to explain. “We are talking really about showing leadership in the world, supporting our international bodies, the ICC, UN, speaking truth to power. Really important what Ireland is representing right now.”
The Journal asked The Edge if he thinks Ireland could be doing more, to which he responded: “Can it do more? I think it’s doing a lot. I’m not sure there is much more it could do more to be honest.”
The Edge’s citizenship comes a month after U2 became the first Irish act to receive Fellowship Of The Ivors Academy in its 81-year history. Becoming an Academy Fellow is the highest honour the organisation bestows.
Following the Fellowship, frontman Bono confirmed that the band have been into the studio and are actively looking to start a new chapter. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Bono said: “We’ve been in the studio and you’ve sometimes got to deal with the past to get to the present, in order to make the sound of the future. That’s what we want to do.”
While keeping details about the sound vague, the singer shared the mindset that the members have when they come together, and how that has shaped the songs. “It’s the sound of four men, who feel like their lives depend on it. I remind them, they do,” he said. “Nobody needs a new U2 album unless it’s an extraordinary one. I’m feeling very strong about it.”
He also reiterated his previous statements confirming that drummer Larry Mullen Jr. – who had to sit out of the band’s historic Las Vegas Sphere residency due to surgery – has been back in the studio with them. “Larry’s back from injury,” he shared. “He’s really innovative.”
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