Meeting U2

"I came out of my family home on St Helen St Galway in Oct 1980 and saw 4 lads coming out of Cahill’s Shop at Cooks Corner. I could tell from their dress sense (skin tight trousers and skimpy tops) that they were not from the area. I ran back in home, got my autography book and then ran back out to ask to ask them for their signatures. I still didn’t know who they were but that didn’t stop me approaching them. It was one of the lads birthdays so they stopped into Cahill’s to buy him a present. They bought him a jewellery set which I remember was 30p consisting of a necklace, earrings, bracelet and a ring which he proceeded to (try) and put on! They were very polite and wrote nice notes in my book. When I went back in home my Mother and I looked up the Connacht Tribune to see which band was in town. As you can see from the pictures it was U2 and it was Bono’s Birthday! Their van had broken down on St Mary’s Road. His note to me in my autograph book says “You are extremely beautiful young lady!” Why important to me: When I met U2 at my corner shop I didn’t know who they were, I just took a chance and approached them. Maybe in some way that day shaped my future philosophy for life. Don’t be afraid to take a chance even if you are not sure of the outcome. Why important to Irish History: I think its important to Irish history because it shows the beginnings of a band that today 37 years later are still one of the biggest bands in the world. But on this October day in 1980 they were just 4 lads who were walking the streets of Galway looking for a lift home. "