IRELAND, DOORS OPEN

 DOORS OPEN

Source of the picture: www.destinoviagem.com

Source: www.speakup.com.br

Language level: C1 Advanced

Standard: British accent

U2 WERE HERE

In recent years Ireland has enjoyed an economic boom, even IF that stopped with the credit crunch of 2008. Yet life goes on in Dublin’s redeveloped docklands area. Here you will find the headquarters of financial and high-tech companies, such as Google, Facebook and Linkedin. The area also has plenty of new housing and there is a massive concert venue, the O2. Yet, as Loretta Lambkin of the Docklands Development Authority explains, the current economic crisis presents a challenge:

Loretta Lambkin

(Irish accent)

We also run a lot of events during the year, we have a huge event called the Docklands Maritime Festival, where we have tall ships and markets and street entertainment, so that we try and…enliven these areas all the time. So it’ll take a long time, and for Ireland to climb back out of the recession, it’s gong to take some time as well, and that has had a huge impact on us, but, you know, we continue to try and programme things to try and…and run things within our own capacities.

TOWER RECORDS

And it seems that even the legendary Dublin rock group U2 have felt the effects of Ireland’s current economic downturn:

Loretta Lambkin

U2 have always been synonymous with the Docklands area, they’ve always recorded all their albums down here. They started off in Windmill Lane, which most people would know. They now record most of their albums down in a studio in Hanover Quay. The plan was that we  would build a building called the U2 Tower and it would be one of the tallest building in the city, and at the top of that, the top two floors, would be where U2’s recording studios would be based: hence the name the U2 Tower. Now unfortunately, given the current climate, the economic climate in Ireland, we’ve had to postpone the project. So it is very much a live project in our plans for the future: however, it will be a couple of years away at this point. 

U2 ON TOUR

Source: www.speakup.com.br

Language level: Pre-Intermediate

Standards: American and British accents

U2 ON TOUR

U2, the great rock band, is having a busy Autumn. After playing in Europe, the group is now heading to New Zealand and Australia. Earlier this year the group cancelled tour dates in the USA. Lead singer Bono injured his back. Luckily for U2 fans, he has now recovered and the tour is back on the road!

THE CLAW!

The 360º tour is unique. The group performs on a special stage: the Claw 200 trucks transport the stage from city to city. The enormous structure serves as stage, lighting system, video centre and sound system. It’s like a huge spaceship in the middle of the stadium. Lights flash. The music roars. And Bono is in constant motion as he sings and dances. The Claw is a spectacular stage, but Bono is the star.

DUBLINERS

U2 have been together since 1976. What is the secret of their success? Guitarist The Edge explains, “We’re a real band. We’re committed and loyal. And we’re real friends.” The group met as school boys at Dublin’s Mount Temple Comprehensive School. Bono even met his wife Alison Stewart, as the same school.

RELIGION

Incredibly, the group almost never existed. Bono and The Edge attended prayer meetings in the 1970s and their Christian beliefs contradicted the rock’n’ roll lifestyle. They decided to continue, but their Christian beliefs remains important to them.

AFRICA

The group’s religious beliefs are the inspiration behind their charity work. Bono is world-famous as an advocate for Live Aid, ONE and DATA in the fight to end poverty in Africa. He’s a friend of world leaders and receives invitations to speak at events like the 2005 G8 Summit. Some people accuse him of arrogance. He admits, “I’m sick of Bono, and I am Bono!”

FASHION

This autumn is an import time for Alison Hewson, Bono’s wife, and her ethical clothing collection EDUN. Alison and Bono founded EDUN to promote business and create jobs in Africa in 2005. So far the collection hasn’t been a success. But new designer Sharon Wauchob and partners, international fashion house LVMH, should change that, EDUN was recently re-launched during New York’s Fashion week to positive reviews by major media in the US.

Those Names: Bono and the Edge (no audio)

Bono’s real name is Paul Hewson. His first nickname was Steinheg Van Huyse No Leg Bangbangbang. It evolved info Bonavox of O’Connell Street. bonavox was a Dublin store that sold hearing aids. This nickname became BonoVox – terrible Latin for ‘good voice’ –and finally Bono. Guitarist The Edge is really David Evans. Bono gave him his nickname because of the way he observes life from the edge and his angular face.