Bono and former US president Mr Bill Clinton were last night inducted into the Washington-based Academy of Achievement¿s hall of fame at a Banquet of the Golden Platein the Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Tight security was in place around the hotel as past and present world leaders, businessmen, artists and Nobel Laureates gathered to hear Mr Clinton deliver a keynote address, the only public event to take place throughout the four-day summit.
The Garda's armed security wing, the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), was deployed around the hotel to protect those attending the conference hosted by the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern.
The full list of attendees remains a closely guarded secret although it is known that author Frank McCourt, athelete Roger Bannister and musician Quincey Jones were present when Mr Clinton and Bono were inducted into the Academy's "Gallery of Achievers".
The Academy of Achievement was set up more than 40 years ago, apparently to inspire "young leaders of tomorrow".
Among the other personalities associated with the Academy are Jimmy Carter, Robert De Niro, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Larry King, Ralph Lauren, Maya Lin, Rosa Parks, Stephen Spielberg, Johnny Cash, and Amy Tan.
Every year the Academy brings together 60 people it believes to be the most accomplished across a range of fields, 400 hand-picked high school students and a number of corporate sponsors to discuss the most pressing matters of the day.
