U2 star Bono has criticized Time Magazine’s decision to put Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on their cover – and said they got the wrong man.
The rock star has told the Sunday Independent newspaper that the people of Ireland were more deserving of the accolade than Kenny.
Bono believes those paying the price for mistakes by Kenny’s predecessors in government are the real heroes of Ireland’s fight against the recession.
He told the paper: “They are the ones who have taken all the pain.
“I heard the Taoiseach (Irish PM) said - and I think it’s right - that the real people who should have been on the front cover were the Irish people.
“If it’s true he said that, then that says a lot about the man. Because it’s the people who have taken all the pain.”
Kenny made the cover after giving the magazine the interview when he said he was "leading Ireland’s fight to recover from the bust."
Kenny and Bono met last Christmas when the U2 singer was offered a role as a roving ambassador for Ireland.
Bono also told the Sunday Independent that he is humbled that Irish people are donating to the Third World despite the recession.
He added: “The Irish people are amazing. What’s so incredible about the Irish people is that if you poll them - I think it’s over 62 per cent - even though they are hurting and there’s a lot of pain in the country, they don’t want to cut the aid budget. That just humbles me.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BrianO | Oct 22, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT
What's Time magazine?
breandan | Oct 22, 2012, 08:52 AM EDT
You have a point Bono. And I'm sure you'd agree that when you were made Time's Man of the Year with Bill Gates that you didn't belong on the cover either. After all, Gates was giving the bulk of HIS money to help others. You were telling the governments to give taxpayer money while you took steps to pay less in taxes pushing the burden onto those with less money than you.
IrelandNorth | Oct 22, 2012, 07:51 AM EDT
The overall population is about six million. A little difficult to cram into a class photgraph for a A4 profile magazine shot. Taoiseach O Cionnaith is merely a figurehead for the Irish nation, warts and all, like Collins was the scarlet pimpernell for rebellious Ireland. Unless Bono (aka Paul Heuson) felt it should have been him. Bono got into a pickel recently by availing of tax avoidant off-shore investment opporunities (like many politicos?) How beneficial are investments in the Cayman Islands to Ireland? Show me the colour of yer money - Bono!
thetint | Oct 22, 2012, 05:07 AM EDT
Why does Irish Central feel the need to give credence to Bono who travels on a British passport and pays his taxes in Holland?
misneac | Oct 21, 2012, 07:34 PM EDT
My comments about the arrogance of an Irish tax dodger like Bono censored ! No doubt if it was an anti Catholic comment it would be published !
curtisjohnson | Oct 21, 2012, 07:19 PM EDT
Not a big Bono fan but he's right on with this one.
pilib04 | Oct 21, 2012, 05:35 PM EDT
Go raibh maith agat, Bono.
aloistmartin | Oct 21, 2012, 05:14 PM EDT
I. don`t believe Bono ever made the successful bridge between the ideology of first three albums, ( Boy, War, and the Unforgettable Fire. ) and the Millions of Dollars, and Empty Beer Bottles, he has accumulated since ?
edmundburke | Oct 21, 2012, 02:37 PM EDT
Just checked. Mayo-born Bill O'Dwyer, Mayor of NYC in the late 40's, was on the cover of Time in 1948.
edmundburke | Oct 21, 2012, 02:34 PM EDT
I wonder, is he the first Mayoman to grace the cover of Time? Can't think of any other (was Mayor O'Dwyer of NYC ever on the cover?) Would've been nice if my Dad lived to see it.
EamonnDublin | Oct 21, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT
What Patrick Counihan does NOT say in his article is that - according to today's "Sunday Independent" in Ireland - Enda Kenny met Bono last Christmas for two hours in the Taoiseach's office, "to discuss affairs of State". Now, I ask you, what sort of bloody country has Ireland become? And no, I am not saying that Bono's strategy would be any worse than Enda Kenny's. What I AM saying is, surely to God we can do better than THIS? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
KevinKehoe | Oct 21, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT
Anyway the more Kenny and the likes are not true to there people the closer we as a nation get to finally getting our True Republic. Erin go Bragh.
KevinKehoe | Oct 21, 2012, 01:14 PM EDT
Kenny’s comment "leading Ireland’s fight to recover from the bust." A true and honest leader should lead by example.The past government as with the present one are paying themselves way to much for a small country along with the high ranking civil servants who are among the highest paid in all of Europe. While Kenny and the boys live it up on the blood sweet and tears of the Irish tax payer and hang-on for just two and a half years of there term in office to qualify for there bloated pensions. By all means if one is a business man, entrepreneur or whatever creating wealth for oneself and in doing so creating revenue and jobs for ones country then fair play. But that cant be said of Kenny and the present government and even worst for the last bunch of baboons running the Emerald isle.
haasny007 | Oct 21, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
seamus60: I don't disagree with the general thrust of your argument. However, Bono deserves acknowledgement for his strong engagement for those less fortunate and his willingness to leverage his fame in their favor. Moreover, U2's music is still awesome!
thorpeman | Oct 21, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT
Bonno the tax dodger no further comment needed!
seamus60 | Oct 21, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT
haasny007. With respect Bono has more wealth than he`d be able to spend in ten lifetimes. What he gives to the down trodden is but the spare change in his trouser pocket. We don`t hear him either attacking the presidential candidate on the issue of giving him and the other stinking rich further tax relief. He is right in what he is saying about Kenny, but a tad hypocritical in view of his own business dealings.
Towngate | Oct 21, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT
Enda Kenny is the properly elected rerepresentative of the Irish people - not balmy Bono! Kenny should shut him up by seizing his vast wealth stashed abroad and give him a good kick in the craic!
haasny007 | Oct 21, 2012, 10:01 AM EDT
@seamus60: We have a tax-dodging presidential candidate who vows to make the tax code even more advantageous for himself and his fellow rich folks if elected. Bono has done more for the downtrodden, the underprivileged and those less fortunate than any Irish or American politician.
Silling | Oct 21, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT
We all evade or try avoid paying tax, it is normal. So less of the Bono bashing. As for Enda on the cover of Time! Somewhat premature I would say. Anyway, Time is dated, being on the cover holds no kudos anymore.
biggles008 | Oct 21, 2012, 09:46 AM EDT
Go away and make more noise on a stage and dodge more TAX.
seamus60 | Oct 21, 2012, 09:12 AM EDT
Great stuff Bono. Pity its coming from one of the countrys biggest tax dodgers.