Bono remembers Mowlam

[Niamh_Saoirse]

(I had no clue he was in London )

Bono read out an emotional poem paying tribute to former cabinet minister Mo Mowlam at a remembrance event in London last night.

The U2 frontman was amongst a high-profile gathering of mourners, including Claire Short, Neil Kinnock, Bertie Ahern, Betty Boothroyd and Rory Bremner at the Drury Lane theatre.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to Mowlam, who died of a brain tumour in August, via a video link, praising her role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

Elsewhere, three members of the Blockheads, the late Ian Dury's group, performed a song, altering the words to make unflattering reference to cabinet ministers who clashed with Mowlam.

Meanwhile, Bono's speech concluded with the following words:

"'Today, we give thanks for a girl who refused to grow up and out of her old friends. Beautiful at Durham. More beautiful. Bringing it out of others. In housing estates. In her labour. In her family. In the Irish.

"More faith.Than the Irish themselves. Faith. That we would eventually see sense.Peace. She's there. We're nearly there..."

 

[Russty Cat]

"More faith.Than the Irish themselves. Faith. That we would eventually see sense.Peace. She's there. We're nearly there..."

This part was just beautiful. Somehow the man just always know how to say things with so few words.

Thank you for sharing this.

 

[susanp6]

Great woman


I miss her loads

 

[biff]

I saw this in the news as well, and wondered if that could possibly be right, and that he was actually, physically there and not on video. The wording makes it seem so, but wow, that's a whirlwind trip!

 

[nikkyjade]

where did you get that article from please?!

 

[biff]

where did you get that article from please?!

http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=10863

 

[caragriff]

it's on u2.com as well, and it does not appear that he was there from their wording.

http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1814

what he wrote is very beautiful:



‘When you grow up
You're supposed to stop wanting to change the world
And instead better adapt to it
When you grow up
You're supposed to stop believing
That
People can change

Today
We give thanks
For the girl in Mo Mowlam
For humour
In the face of serious bigotry
For naiveté when it was necessary
For wisdom when it wasn't
Today
We give thanks
For youthful stubbornness
In the face of mockery
For honesty
When illness cheats
For grace
Amongst the clumsy
Today
We give thanks
For a girl who refused
To grow up and out of her old friends
Beautiful
At Durham
More beautiful
Bringing it out of others
In housing estates
In her labour
In her family
In the Irish...
More faith
...Than the Irish themselves
Faith
That we would eventually see sense...
Peace
She's there
We're nearly there...’

Bono, November 20th, 2005

 

[nikkyjade]

awww that is so beautiful

thanks for the links guys
xxx<3

 

[The Fiddler]

 

[GracelandHarley]

it's on u2.com as well, and it does not appear that he was there from their wording.

http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1814

what he wrote is very beautiful:



‘When you grow up
You're supposed to stop wanting to change the world
And instead better adapt to it
When you grow up
You're supposed to stop believing
That
People can change

Today
We give thanks
For the girl in Mo Mowlam
For humour
In the face of serious bigotry
For naiveté when it was necessary
For wisdom when it wasn't
Today
We give thanks
For youthful stubbornness
In the face of mockery
For honesty
When illness cheats
For grace
Amongst the clumsy
Today
We give thanks
For a girl who refused
To grow up and out of her old friends
Beautiful
At Durham
More beautiful
Bringing it out of others
In housing estates
In her labour
In her family
In the Irish...
More faith
...Than the Irish themselves
Faith
That we would eventually see sense...
Peace
She's there
We're nearly there...’

Bono, November 20th, 2005

at the same time. Very special, Bono.

 

[hay]

I had shivers run down my spine reading the poem

 

[Niamh_Saoirse]

Mo Mowland was a great woman with a great sense of humour. I remember my bf´s ma telling me stories about her. I cracked up when she told me how Mo used to go into Cabinet meetings, kick her shoes off and after a couple of hours, when the meetings were going no wehre, she would stand up, wave her hand in utter boredom and tell her assistant: "This is going no where. I´m bored. I´m going home". lol And she used to curse like a sailor as well.

Her wonderful spirit and bravery will be greately missed.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

that's awesome