August 13, 2002
From The Mirror:
August 13, 2002
U20
Bono and Ali Celebrate Twenty Years of Marriage
By Caoimhe Young
In the showbiz world they say a marriage is made in heaven but for most it usually ends with the
hell of bitter divorce.
One obvious exception to the rule is the partnership of U2 frontman Bono and his childhood
sweetheart Ali, who celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary later this month.
The couple, who first met at school, have survived the strain of fame as well as standing the test
of time that every marriage experiences.
Reports of a glittering anniversary bash in U2's Clarence Hotel were denied yesterday by sources
close to the couple. But even if Bono, 42, and Ali, 41, decide to shy away from the glamour, friends
and family will still raise a toast to the happy couple.
Producer and TV presenter Shay Healy remembers the day the two Dubliners tied the knot on
August 21, 1982.
He said: "I was given the job of hiring the wedding band for Bono and Ali's wedding.
"I hired a group called The Cyclones who I knew from school. It was a great wedding. I was invited
to the afters and Paul Brady jammed, it was a real nice party. Even back then Bono was seen as a
kind of leader and there was a kind of energy around the party.
"Bono was carried through the main rooms of the Sutton House Hotel on the lads' shoulders. It was
like he was fated to be a leader.
"Bono had a kind of destiny or legacy to carry out and I think he's followed it in a very straight line.
"Bono and Ali are both very interesting people, as a rock star he is the greatest, number one. But Ali
too is remarkable, she has a spouse who is amazingly influential but she has still carved out an
identity for herself."
She has been prominent in recent times with her campaign to shut down the Sellafield nuclear power
station.
But it was as a young Alison Stewart that she met her future husband at Mount Temple Secondary
School in North Dublin.
It was the same school where, in 1976, U2's drummer Larry Mullen pinned up a hopeful notice to see
if anybody was interested in forming a band.
Teenager Paul Hewson grabbed the opportunity and was handed the nickname Bono because his
voice was so good.
Six years later the couple married and they now have four children - Jordan, 13, Memphis, 11, Elijah,
three, and one-year-old John.
The family are on holiday at the moment at their summer home near Villefranche on southern France's
Cote D'Azure.
They are expected to return home in the next week so the children can get ready to go back to school.
But the anniversary celebrations will be tainted with sadness after Bono's dad Bob died from cancer
last year.
Bono's brother Norman Hewson, who runs trendy Dublin juice bar Nude, said: "Yeah, I'm happy for
them. I don't think they are having a party - well at least no-one told me."
Motormouth DJ Gerry Ryan said: "I think 20 years together is a tremendous achievement.
"They are a unique combination and I think Ali is very strong-willed but gentle at the same time.
"Bono is gregarious, an interesting fella and they are a classic mix. They are like two parts of a jigsaw
puzzle that fit together perfectly."
Singing star Ronan Keating, who married model Yvonne Connelly three years ago, hopes to follow in
the footsteps of the famous couple.
He said: "They are great couple. I don't know what it is about them but they have something very
special."
2FM DJ Larry Gogan, whose wife Florie died from breast cancer last January, paid tribute to the couple's
commitment to each other. He told the Daily Mirror: "I have to confess I've never interviewed Bono but I
know Larry quite well.
"The day I was meant to interview Bono he had the flu, that was way back in the early days.
"They are both good people with world issues at heart and they do great work.
"Myself and Florie were married for 39 years but I don't know what our secret was.
"People never believe us when we say we never fought. But we were friends as well as lovers."
Hostess to the stars, Valerie Roe of Dublin's trendy club Lillies Bordello, passed on her best wishes to
Bono, who once wrote hit single Sweetest Thing in honour of his wife.
She said: "They are a very grounded couple and I think that's what keeps them together. I've never
had the pleasure to meet Ali but I'm sure she has her feet on the ground.
"I remember Bono once asked me how I cope with work when I have a small child.
"I was looking at him thinking how can this amazing man be interested in what time I get up at in the
morning.
"But he's interested in normal things and normal people and I think that's what sets Bono and Ali apart
from other showbiz couples."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
will put a damper on things, but maybe they can celebrate a day or so earlier. My Grandma died on my cousin's anniversary and now it bums her out to think of it
