The once "extraordinary" city of Dublin has been "defaced and vandalised" through "corruption and cronyism", according to Bono of U2. "No one so far has paid a fine or gone to prison, but we're hopeful," he added.
He was speaking yesterday at a press conference to announce an international design competition for a 60-metre landmark tower on Britain Quay, where the River Dodder joins the Liffey. The band's new recording studios are to be on the top floor.
Bono said U2 agreed to swap its existing studios in a Hanover Quay shed for the penthouse following confirmation by An Bord Pleanála of a compulsory purchase order by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
The DDDA plans to demolish the shed because it stands in the way of developing the campshire of Hanover Quay as an amenity open space surrounding the Grand Canal Dock. "It's hard to argue with people who know what their doing," Bono said resignedly.
"We just have to get out of the way. It's not the best thing for U2, but we have to concede it's the best thing for the city."
Mr Peter Coyne, the authority's chief executive, declined to confirm the deal involved a straight swap for the top floor of the proposed landmark tower.
"Bono has been more candid that I'm going to be about any of the commercial arrangements," he said.Bono said he liked the new buildings in Docklands. He also commented that "for all the years of supposed prosperity, Dublin has precious few extraordinary buildings" to show for it all. Although developers had "gotten away with a lot over the years", Dublin was looking a lot more "handsome" than it did in the past.
"This city was a very, very beautiful city. Now with imagination it is being remade and the new Dublin is something I'm really excited about."
Afterwards, he told The Irish Times the band would be represented on the jury, probably by Adam Clayton because he "would be very good at it". The most important thing was the tower should be "very imaginative" and qualify as a "great building".
Bono said Dublin was ready for some taller buildings, particularly in the Docklands area. "I don't think it should be like London, where it's haphazard."
He said the competition and subsequent selection of a developer by the
DDDA would probably take 12 months and, depending on the complexity of the design, it could take a two years to build.
In the meantime, U2 would stay in its existing studios.
Inevitably, Bono was asked about O'Connell Street. "If they're chopping down the trees there ... maybe they have a good reason." Told there was a plan to replace them with more trees, he asked:
"Are we going to have to wait 150 years to enjoy their shade?"