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U2 guitarist The Edge becomes Irish citizen

Ross McKee
BBC News NI
Getty Images The Edge in black leather jacket and grey hat, playing a guitar, alongside Bono singing into microphone.Getty Images
U2's The Edge and Bono performing in 2017 in New Jersey

U2 guitarist David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, has become an Irish citizen at a ceremony in County Kerry.

The 63-year-old was born in Essex in England, and is the child of Welsh parents, but has lived in Ireland since he was one.

Sporting a tricolour clip on his lapel, the musician had Irish citizenship conferred on him in Killarney and said it was a "a monumental day" for all involved.

He is among about 7,500 people who are making a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the Irish state and becoming Irish citizens on Monday and Tuesday.

'The time is right'

RTÉ David Howell Evans, with beard and grey hat, grey jacket and necklace, third from the left. He is accompanied on his left, by a woman with dark hair, green top and white jacket, a woman with dark hair, black top and grey jumper and a man with grey hair and red/blue striped shirt.RTÉ
U2 guitarist David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, was conferred with Irish citizenship at a ceremony on Monday

"I'm a little tardy with the paper work," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

"I've been living in Ireland now since I was one, but the time is right.

"And I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing.

"It couldn't come at a better moment for me, so I am just so happy to be at this point to be in even deeper connection with my homeland."

Last month, it was revealed that U2 are back in the studio making new music, after a gap of eight years.

The four-piece had been on an extended break, as drummer Larry Mullen Jr recovered from neck surgery.

Evans was a founding member of the group, which was formed in Dublin in the 1970s.