U2’s The Edge officially granted Irish citizenship after decades of residence

David Howell Evans, better known as The Edge, the guitarist for the world-famous Irish band U2, has officially become an Irish citizen. Born in Essex, England to Welsh parents, The Edge did not hold Irish citizenship despite living in Ireland since he was one year old. At the age of 63, he received Irish citizenship in a ceremony held in Killarney, County Kerry, where he expressed great pride and called the day ‘monumental.’ Alongside about 7,500 others becoming citizens over two days, The Edge declared his loyalty to the Irish state. This citizenship formalization comes at a meaningful time for him personally, deepening his connection to Ireland. Meanwhile, U2 has recently returned to the studio after an eight-year hiatus, during which drummer Larry Mullen Jr. underwent neck surgery. The band, formed in Dublin in the 1970s, continues to be a major cultural icon in Ireland and worldwide. The Edge’s citizenship highlights his lifelong ties to the country despite his foreign birth.