Music

What unites a taoiseach, an archbishop and Chelsea Clinton? U2, of course

Daughter of former US President Bill Clinton flew into Ireland as guest of Bono

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the U2 performance of The Joshua Tree in Croke Park Dublin. Photographs: Eric Luke

Seán Dunne
Sun Jul 23 2017 - 16:18

Fans from across the globe flocked to see U2 perform at Croke Park as part of the band's The Joshua Tree tour with a host of famous faces in the crowd on Saturday night.

Former US President Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea and her husband Marc Mezvinsky were among those spotted at Croke Park

It is understood the couple flew in especially for the concert after being invited by Bono.

Actor Colin Farrell at the U2 concert at Croke Park in Dublin. Photgraph: Brian Lawless/PA

During the Croke Park concert, Hillary Clinton’s image flashed by on screen – part of a compilation of images of trailblazing women – during the band’s hit Ultraviolet.

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Journalist Nell McCafferty, the anti-apartheid striking Dunnes Stores workers, Veronica Guerin and Mary McAleese were among the Irish figures honoured in the video piece.

The Government was well represented at the concert with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in attendance with a number of Ministers.

They included Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Pascal O'Donohue; Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney; Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan; and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone.

President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina were also spotted enjoying the concert alongside the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin was among the other political figures present, while Hollywood actor Colin Farrell was part of a plethora of celebrities.

A tight security plan was in operation at the event with extra gardaí deployed to Croke Park.

It is not the first time the Clintons have been represented at a U2 concert. In 2015, the family watched the band at Madison Square Garden with Bono giving a personal shout out to Bill and Hillary.

The couple has close ties to U2, with Bono appearing at events for the Clintons’ charity foundation in the past.

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