Irish band's charity work recognised

The rock group the Corrs had two big pieces of news yesterday. The Dundalk foursome were presented with an honorary MBE by the British ambassador, Stewart Eldon, at his residence in Dublin. And Sharon confirmed she was pregnant with her first baby.

Sitting in the reception room of the ambassador's residence with her two sisters - Caroline and Andrea - and brother Jim, she said she was "a couple of months pregnant, though I'm hiding it well in this dress".

The band found out in May they were to be honoured with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) and had to keep it secret until today. Andrea said it was "very surprising and very surreal. It's like being given a gift from another country."

They did have initial concerns about accepting the British title, said Sharon. But, she said, music was "anti-discrimination", was "about progress and change" and, in the end, the band felt "very honoured" by the title.

His Excellency, Mr Eldon, said the honorary MBE was a recognition of the band's "immense musical contribution" and of their charity work. They had played charity concerts for victims of the Omagh bombings, for the Prince's Trust and the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

They also supported the Special Olympics in Dublin and have been active for Concern and the Nelson Mandela 46664 campaign. This campaign - named after Mandela's prison ID number - is a worldwide, music-led campaign to raise awareness about HIV/Aids and generate funds to fight the pandemic in southern Africa.

Asked whether there was greater satisfaction in having their charitable or musical work commended, Sharon said the two could not be compared. It was "lovely" that the two aspects of their work had been noted on behalf of the British people.

After the ceremony in the morning, the band and their guests had lunch at the ambassador's residence. They were joined by their father Gerry Corr, Sharon's husband Gavin Bonnar, Caroline's husband Frank Woods, and Jim's girlfriend Gayle Williamson.

Also present were their manager John Hughes and support musicians Keith Duffy and Anto Drennan.