bonomofo
The Fly
Does anybody have the new interview with Ali from the Mirror that was out the other day?? If you do can you tell us what she says? 
Thanks!
Thanks!
Article with Ali
- Thread starter bonomofo
- Start date
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souLnation2002
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Yep! Here ya go:
The Mirror
18th January 2003
We fight for the privacy of our kids, but Bono's name helps me
raise charity cash
ALI HEWSON TELLS OF STRUGGLE FOR FAMILY LIFE IN THE
SPOTLIGHT
by CATHERINE McGINN
AS the wife of Bono, Ali Hewson is friends with some of the world's
biggest stars. Having a cup of tea with Naomi Campbell or
gossiping with Helena Christensen is part of her everyday life.
Although Ali, 41, is happy to step into the spotlight for a good
cause, the proud mother is keen to keep things in perspective for
their four children. She said: "I don't want them growing up in a
glass bowl with every move scrutinised.
"Our lives could be so much more public but we have to fight for as
much privacy as possible for the sake of the kids.
"They need time to grow up and space to make mistakes - and so
do adults.
"I prefer just to keep my head down and get on with it, but I have to
be more public if I'm trying to get a message across for a charity.
You need to sell it to people."
Ali added that being known as "Bono's wife" is a tag she is well
used to and knows it raises her profile to speak out for good
causes. She said: "It has advantages and disadvantages but I
understand it and I've got used to it now. It doesn't bother me."
But for the couple, who have been married for 20 years, Jordan, 13,
Eve, 11, Elijah Bob, three, and 18-month-old John Abraham are
definitely their priority. However, their commitments to charity work
can mean family life becomes quite hectic.
Ali said: "Along with being parents and Bono's day job, we have a
lot of commitments."
"Honestly, I don't know how we manage.
"We have very understanding kids and I suppose they are used to
absentee parents.
"Well, they are used to their dad being away, but not their mum.
"I tend to work on projects for a limited period of time and I am
lucky that I can work from home.
"It is difficult, though, to try to focus working on a project at home
when you have lots of interruptions, but I have some great help.
"We try to structure our days as best we can but invariably by 11
o'clock it's all messed up."
A normal day for Ali is three school runs and a lot of organising
bodies in beds, nappies and bottles. She said: "I do cook when I
have the time. But I'm one of those people who has to read the
recipe book to remember what is in it.
"If there are more than four things in a recipe I tend to get
confused.
"Then after four interruptions something usually ends up burning -
so dinner in our house is an experience."
But Ali's skills out of home are set to delight the 6,000-crowd
expected at the Brown Thomas International Fashion Show.
On Thursday her supermodel friends will fly to Dublin for a charity
fashion show extravaganza at The Point.
The international catwalk queens will be modelling free of charge to
help three children's charities.
Ali is working around the clock to ensure the fashion show is a
massive success. Along with Helena and Naomi, supermodels
Jerry Hall, Heidi Klum, Yasmin le Bon and Jasmine Guinness will
take to the catwalk.
The event will showcase designer labels Gucci, Philip Treacy,
Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabanna and Christian Dior for the first
time together.
Hosted by CD:UK presenter Cat Deeley, an impressive list of stars
will also attend to give the charity extravaganza their blessing.
Special guest presenters will include Corrie's Keith Duffy, Davina
McCall, Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Kielty, Eddie Irvine and The Edge.
Samantha Mumba, who joined forces with Ali for the Shut Sellafield
Campaign, is also set to perform at the star-studded show. Ali
said: "It's quite tough to organise as we are involved in every detail.
We have to call in a lot of favours from friends, although the models
are very sympathetic to the cause and want to do it.
"This year might be the last though. There is only so much you can
ask from the same people.
"It is a big commitment - the girls fly in from New York and Paris
and with travel time, it takes up three days. Last year Naomi flew in
from Japan."
But the success of the fashion show is internationally recognised
and Ali hopes that this year it will be as big a success as before.
The star-studded gig is set to raise more than EUR700,000 for the
Chernobyl Children's Project, ISPCC and the Christina Noble
Foundation. Ali said: "I was first approached in 1997 by charity
worker Caroline Downey, who also produces the Childline Concert.
"I am lucky financially to be able to work on charity projects and I
suppose I am in the right area to be noticed."
Ali has also been a patron of the Chernobyl Children's Project
since 1993. She said: "Adi Roche persuaded me to go to Belarus
to make a documentary.
It wasn't an experience I wanted, it just fell into my lap.
"But when I visited Belarus I was appalled. The region had 70 per
cent of the fallout from Chernobyl.
"When I saw what was happening I felt I had no choice but to do
something about it and I am very happy to be involved."
Ali is passionate about the cause and regularly works to highlight
the current crisis the people of Chernobyl face.
She said: "It was 16 years ago now and the situation is worsening.
"The gene pool is totally infected as children from that time grow up
and have children of their own.
"It is hard to keep the subject alive after so long, especially when
there are tragic events and environmental disasters all over the
world every day. We try to focus on the same orphanages rather
than stretching our resources so thin that we dilute the help we can
give.
"We bring the same children over to Ireland and we are trying to
teach them skills that they can bring back to Belarus.
"It can be difficult, feeling like you're playing God, but we don't have
the resources to help everyone.
"Kids die on a regularly basis and no amount of money can save
them.
"All we can do is give them a good quality of life, for as long as it
is.
"I wish there was no need for charity, it is like putting your finger in
the hole of a dam. "It is frustrating that the governments who have
the power aren't sorting out the situation globally, but there is so
little interest."
Ali said that she and Bono, real name Paul Hewson, have four or
five areas that they are committed to.
She added: "With Bono it is Aids and debt relief and with me it is
mainly children's causes.
"There are so many more worthy causes but if you spread yourself
too thinly then the charities will be frustrated because they can't
use your skills properly.
"It would mean the people you want to help wouldn't get that help."
Ali is now hoping the fashion show will help raise funds to enable
the charities to continue their good work.
The Mirror
18th January 2003
We fight for the privacy of our kids, but Bono's name helps me
raise charity cash
ALI HEWSON TELLS OF STRUGGLE FOR FAMILY LIFE IN THE
SPOTLIGHT
by CATHERINE McGINN
AS the wife of Bono, Ali Hewson is friends with some of the world's
biggest stars. Having a cup of tea with Naomi Campbell or
gossiping with Helena Christensen is part of her everyday life.
Although Ali, 41, is happy to step into the spotlight for a good
cause, the proud mother is keen to keep things in perspective for
their four children. She said: "I don't want them growing up in a
glass bowl with every move scrutinised.
"Our lives could be so much more public but we have to fight for as
much privacy as possible for the sake of the kids.
"They need time to grow up and space to make mistakes - and so
do adults.
"I prefer just to keep my head down and get on with it, but I have to
be more public if I'm trying to get a message across for a charity.
You need to sell it to people."
Ali added that being known as "Bono's wife" is a tag she is well
used to and knows it raises her profile to speak out for good
causes. She said: "It has advantages and disadvantages but I
understand it and I've got used to it now. It doesn't bother me."
But for the couple, who have been married for 20 years, Jordan, 13,
Eve, 11, Elijah Bob, three, and 18-month-old John Abraham are
definitely their priority. However, their commitments to charity work
can mean family life becomes quite hectic.
Ali said: "Along with being parents and Bono's day job, we have a
lot of commitments."
"Honestly, I don't know how we manage.
"We have very understanding kids and I suppose they are used to
absentee parents.
"Well, they are used to their dad being away, but not their mum.
"I tend to work on projects for a limited period of time and I am
lucky that I can work from home.
"It is difficult, though, to try to focus working on a project at home
when you have lots of interruptions, but I have some great help.
"We try to structure our days as best we can but invariably by 11
o'clock it's all messed up."
A normal day for Ali is three school runs and a lot of organising
bodies in beds, nappies and bottles. She said: "I do cook when I
have the time. But I'm one of those people who has to read the
recipe book to remember what is in it.
"If there are more than four things in a recipe I tend to get
confused.
"Then after four interruptions something usually ends up burning -
so dinner in our house is an experience."
But Ali's skills out of home are set to delight the 6,000-crowd
expected at the Brown Thomas International Fashion Show.
On Thursday her supermodel friends will fly to Dublin for a charity
fashion show extravaganza at The Point.
The international catwalk queens will be modelling free of charge to
help three children's charities.
Ali is working around the clock to ensure the fashion show is a
massive success. Along with Helena and Naomi, supermodels
Jerry Hall, Heidi Klum, Yasmin le Bon and Jasmine Guinness will
take to the catwalk.
The event will showcase designer labels Gucci, Philip Treacy,
Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabanna and Christian Dior for the first
time together.
Hosted by CD:UK presenter Cat Deeley, an impressive list of stars
will also attend to give the charity extravaganza their blessing.
Special guest presenters will include Corrie's Keith Duffy, Davina
McCall, Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Kielty, Eddie Irvine and The Edge.
Samantha Mumba, who joined forces with Ali for the Shut Sellafield
Campaign, is also set to perform at the star-studded show. Ali
said: "It's quite tough to organise as we are involved in every detail.
We have to call in a lot of favours from friends, although the models
are very sympathetic to the cause and want to do it.
"This year might be the last though. There is only so much you can
ask from the same people.
"It is a big commitment - the girls fly in from New York and Paris
and with travel time, it takes up three days. Last year Naomi flew in
from Japan."
But the success of the fashion show is internationally recognised
and Ali hopes that this year it will be as big a success as before.
The star-studded gig is set to raise more than EUR700,000 for the
Chernobyl Children's Project, ISPCC and the Christina Noble
Foundation. Ali said: "I was first approached in 1997 by charity
worker Caroline Downey, who also produces the Childline Concert.
"I am lucky financially to be able to work on charity projects and I
suppose I am in the right area to be noticed."
Ali has also been a patron of the Chernobyl Children's Project
since 1993. She said: "Adi Roche persuaded me to go to Belarus
to make a documentary.
It wasn't an experience I wanted, it just fell into my lap.
"But when I visited Belarus I was appalled. The region had 70 per
cent of the fallout from Chernobyl.
"When I saw what was happening I felt I had no choice but to do
something about it and I am very happy to be involved."
Ali is passionate about the cause and regularly works to highlight
the current crisis the people of Chernobyl face.
She said: "It was 16 years ago now and the situation is worsening.
"The gene pool is totally infected as children from that time grow up
and have children of their own.
"It is hard to keep the subject alive after so long, especially when
there are tragic events and environmental disasters all over the
world every day. We try to focus on the same orphanages rather
than stretching our resources so thin that we dilute the help we can
give.
"We bring the same children over to Ireland and we are trying to
teach them skills that they can bring back to Belarus.
"It can be difficult, feeling like you're playing God, but we don't have
the resources to help everyone.
"Kids die on a regularly basis and no amount of money can save
them.
"All we can do is give them a good quality of life, for as long as it
is.
"I wish there was no need for charity, it is like putting your finger in
the hole of a dam. "It is frustrating that the governments who have
the power aren't sorting out the situation globally, but there is so
little interest."
Ali said that she and Bono, real name Paul Hewson, have four or
five areas that they are committed to.
She added: "With Bono it is Aids and debt relief and with me it is
mainly children's causes.
"There are so many more worthy causes but if you spread yourself
too thinly then the charities will be frustrated because they can't
use your skills properly.
"It would mean the people you want to help wouldn't get that help."
Ali is now hoping the fashion show will help raise funds to enable
the charities to continue their good work.
Niamh_Saoirse
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
Any pics? 
oliveu2cm
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
She's wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
IrishThunder
The Fly
I got the mirror that day but the interview must not have been in our edition.
Ali seems down to earth but can I just say the bit about models flying in and it taking up 3 days is a lot of bull! So they have a bit of jet lag, big wow! How hard is it to walk up and down especially in the name of Charity!!!!
If you ask me it is more about the fact the models don;t like the fact they don;t get paid. What a bunch of eejits!
Ali seems down to earth but can I just say the bit about models flying in and it taking up 3 days is a lot of bull! So they have a bit of jet lag, big wow! How hard is it to walk up and down especially in the name of Charity!!!!
If you ask me it is more about the fact the models don;t like the fact they don;t get paid. What a bunch of eejits!
Laura M
Blue Crack Addict
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
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It must be hard being that famous and trying to keep your life private
DebbieSG
Refugee
souLnation2002 said:
i see bono and Ali have something in common
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