Laurel Housden Photography Blog

On a totally unrelated subject of photography - check out the link above to see the preview of U2’s new 3D Concert Movie opening in select theatres in January 2008.

 Anyone who knows me - knows - how Passionate I am about U2! As I get older it is something that I tend to keep more to myself since U2 is probably already considered classic rock in the eyes of most. But I will always be young (and be reminded of those simpler times) as long as U2 continues to make new music.  I have been a fan of U2 from the very beginning.  My connection to U2 is very strong.  It’s a beautiful love story that I share with U2, my husband Stuart, and my children…Madison, Rowan, and Aidan.  I won’t bore you with the details but I will say that we are connected in more ways than one.

O.k. so this is a photography blog so let me share with you some pictures from my personal vault that relate to my U2 story.

Yep…that’s yours truly in the center sporting her cowboy hat (trying to do my best Bono impersonation from Rattle and Hum). This picture was taken in August of 1992 in front of the RFK stadium in Washington D.C. just before U2 took the stage.  It was a very cool night! It was the first time that I actually cried at a concert. It was that moving.

In August of 1994, I met my husband Stuart (who is British and Australian) at an Irish bar called J. Patricks in Baltimore, Maryland. We shared a pint of Guinness and the rest as they say is history. We were married and had our daughter, Madison, the following June of 1995. Two years later AND with daughter Number 2, Rowan…we packed our bags and moved to Dublin, Ireland and lived through the Millennium. We lived in the village of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.

(Rowan in front of the U2 Wall in City Centre, Dublin)

Being the U2 Mom that I was…I would frequently take my youngest daughter Rowan (see her in the blue jacket) to the quays along the banks of the River Liffy in hopes of a chance encounter with the man himself. The boys were in Hanover Quay at the time recording “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”.  Rowan and I DID get that chance encounter with Bono.

Without giving too much info away…Bono and The Edge lived about 20 minutes from us (they still live here). There is a lovely beach below Bono’s house with a fantastic view of the Irish  Sea (Bono’s house is the white house in the center and Enya’s house is the house just above it that looks like a castle. That is the train stop just to the left of this picture). I would take my girls to the beach sometime to find pebbles and seashells.

This is the gated entrance to Bono’s house. If you are brave enough to actually go up to the gates you will be rewarded with the poetry of Bono - all  handwritten.  The Edge lives just a stones through away.

That’s my partner in crime and daughter Rowan and me in front of the Sugarloaf Mountain in County Wicklow in the fall of 1999. We lived just on the border of County Wicklow and would frequently visit Powerscourt House and Gardens that offered magnificent views of the mountain. We would often have tea in the Avoca Cafe just inside of the gardens. They have the best scones and tea. If ever in the Dublin area — it is a must see.  Here is a link with more info.

(My daughter Rowan and me today November, 2007. She is my little lady and still my partner in crime- and a great cook too)

I hope you have enjoyed a little peak inside my vault. Have a great day and keep shooting!