- Music
- 21 Dec 04
U2's Clarence Set For Expansion?
With How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb dominating the Christmas sales rush, U2 have firmly re-established their place at the top of the rock tree. Now comes further evidence of the expanding ambitions of Ireland's biggest ever showbiz export.
Plans have been lodged with Dublin Corporation for the extension of the Clarence Hotel, in which Bono and The Edge are directors, along with Dublin property magnate, Harry Crosbie, who is also involved in ownership of The Point Theatre.
An earlier scheme to expand the hotel was turned down by the city planners earlier this year because of excessive height. However, the latest plan to develop the hotel is more modest in scale and therefore more likely to win the approval of the city bosses. The plan would see development at both the front and the back of the existing hotel site, with 9-12 Wellington Quay and 9 Essex St. East being incorporated into the hotel. There is no increase in height proposed in the new plan.
The Clarence remains one of the favoured destinations of touring artists visiting Ireland.
