sunday _tribune

DON'T be surprised if you see Bono playing shepherd in St Stephen's green this morning. U2 got the freedom of Dublin last night and immediately laid claim to the privileges the honour entitles them to. And the band's front man even came equipped with a list of his new rights in his back pocket and announced his intention to exercise at least one of them today. " Apparently, I have the right to graze sheep and lamb on Stephen's Green. I want to try it out tomorrow, and I'm not joking" he declared, as Lord Mayor Mary Freehill looked on. " We are like sheep that have gone astray anyway! " I also have the right to bring goods into Dublin through the city Gates without paying Customs. Is that cool or what_ some stereos and a few Toyotas for a few mates," he mused.
Bono with kim Aris, who received the freedom of the city on behalf of his mother, who has been under house arrest in Burma since 1989.	He was obviously tickled at the fact that, under a 1454 Act, every Freeman of Dublin has to have a coat of mail, A Bow and a sword of his own. " I come from Ballymun and that's just going to go down really well there," he said. However, Larry Mullen was less impressed with the Feedom his new status bestowed on him. " I was very disappointed to learn that I wouldn't be able to drive in the bus lanes and that I could still get clamped and parking fines," said the despondent drummer. Adam Clayton was the only member of the band who didn't seem to have looked into his new-found privileges, while The Edge seemed most prepared of all to give something back to his home town. " As a freeman, you have to be ready to join the city militia at short notice and I want to state that we will be there if called upon". But amid all the jokes at the ceremony in Smithfield, Bono in particular appeared moved at the honour being awarded to them. " Both my mother and my father came from a mile up the road. This thing of being a Freeman of the City is an enormous thing to my father, Bob, and if my mother Iris was alive, It would
mean so much to her.I'm thinking of my mother tonight because I think she would really have liked this. " It is a very humbling thing to receive such an award from a city that, let us say, is not predisposed to flattery. With this much goodwill going, I think we should just lap it up because we can never be sure when things might change. That's what I like most about Dublin people, they don't kiss ass, they tend to tickle our bottoms". Bono spoke of his pride at the group being the only musicians to join Count John McCormack on the roll call of Dublin Freemen but said that many other, and perhaps "greater" musicians such as the Dubliners and Thin Lizzy, would also deserve the honour. Asked if he was still interested in the Northern question, Bono said:" Yeah, the people only have so much patience for me giving them lip". However, at an open air concert following their presentation, the band played their major hit " One", with Bono dedicating it to " David Trimble, John Hume, Jerry Adams and Big Ian. Our future as an island is in their hands", he said. They also played their hit to a wildly enthusiastic crowd of thousands. Kim Aris, the sun of the Burmese Freedom leader, Aung Sang Suu Kyi, was there to receive the Freedom of the City on behalf of his mother. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in Burma since 1989 and if she leaves the country, she can never go back. Kim Aris, on crutches after a fall during his stay in Dublin, was joined at the ceremony by his wife Rachel and baby son Jamie, who has never seen his heroic grandmother. Kim Aris said:" my mother would like to say that she is greatly honoured at the freedom of this great city bestowed upon her. We feel that it is an especially touching award as it is symbolic of the city opening its heart to her". Bono said:" Given Aung Sang Suu Kyi's circumstances, I hope we never take our freedom for granted". The recipients were each presented with a Scroll of Freedom in a leather case. Each of the band members of U2, and their manager Paul McGuinness, who also received the Freedom of the City, was given an individually carved Joshua Tree mounted on ancient bog oak, made by Waterford Crystal. Kim Aris was presented with a Waterford Crystal Dove of Peace in his mother's honour.