FIGURING that the quickest way to make money for a charity is to get some celebrities involved, TCD student Ciaran Gearty spent the summer firing off over 700 letters to prominent people asking them to draw pictures of their favourite play thing as a child. The idea was to auction the pictures as a fund raiser for Health Action Overseas, a charity which works to improve the lives of orphans in Romania. One of the first responses was from Bono, who sent a drawing called - for the sakes of safe euphemism - "me rattler".
When word of the diminutive drawing got out there was a bid of £7,000 with a promise that if Ciaran could get the other three members of U2 to draw their favourite childhood toys the bid for the entire collection would go up to £40,000. This he did the last drawing arrived this week as the band flew off to New York.
For rock trivia fans - and there must be many refrainspotters out there (this week Niall Stokes launched his book that details the background to the band's songs) Larry's favourite toy was a soldier, the Edge drew a Quality Street tin and a pair of knitting needles and Adam a burning rubber duck.
The folks from Planet Hollywood - set to open a Dublin branch next year - are always on the lookout for rock memorabilia and they are expected at the auction, which takes place in the Shelbourne Hotel tomorrow evening.
Princess Haya of Jordan is patron of the event and will fly in tomorrow morning after competing in show jumping championships in Spain.