Friday the 3rd
Information and Guide to Anglo-Irish writer Samuel Beckett created and maintained in Dublin, Ireland

The festival programme to mark the centenary of the birth of Samuel Beckett was launched in Dublin Castle last night by U2 singer Bono and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue. Numerous events will take place in April to celebrate the work of the Nobel Prize winner. Bono was at the Beckett Centenary Festival launch at the invitation of Michael Colgan, Director of the Gate Theatre and the Chairman of the Beckett Centenary Committee. Before the event Colgan asked Bono to perform a pastiche of Beckett and the singer was presented with a signed edition of Beckett's book 'Murphy'; Bono gave Beckett a copy of U2's 'The Unforgettable Fire' in 1985.

U2 frontman Bono has revealed he is a fan of Samuel Beckett, as he kicked off a series of events marking the centenary of the Irish playwright's birth. At the international launch of the Beckett Centenary Festival in Dublin Castle, Bono said he had read many of the renowned writer's plays. "I've read most of his works, I'm a fan. I don't know what he's on about half the time but I have enjoyed not knowing," he laughed. "He blew my mind, that is all I can say. He shrank language, minimalist, all that stuff. It is great that he's Irish." Bono, who was wearing his trademark shades, revealed that he gave the playwright a copy of U2's album The Unforgettable Fire in 1985. But he joked that the writer might never have found time to listen to it. "I gave it to him, I'm not sure he ever listened to it, but that is my connection. I am very proud he had a copy of The Unforgettable Fire," he said. The singer said the works of the playwright were not as important to people as they should be. "He was always kept apart as something aloof, something you didn't understand, something you had to take too, too, too seriously," he said. "And in fact Beckett was having a laugh a lot of the time." Events held as part of the festival will include the staging of Beckett's plays, poetry and prose readings, film screenings, television and radio productions, a touring exhibit in public libraries and visual arts exhibitions.

Bono launched the Beckett Centenary Festival at the Dublin castle on Wednesday. He was attending at the invitation of Michael Colgan, Director of the Gate Theatre and the Chairman of the Beckett Centenary Committee. Colgan asked Bono to perform his 'pastiche of Beckett'. Colgan then presented Bono with a signed edition of Beckett's book 'Murphy'.