Dublin's multi-million album-selling rockers U2 have announced a competition to build a state-of-the-art music studio in the city's docklands.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority is holding the competition, launched this morning by Bono, and the winner will design a 60-metre landmark tower at the riverside.
The proposed tower, which will be built on Britain Quay, is to include an exclusive recording studio for U2 on its top two floors and will consist of some four floors providing recording studios, offices and a ground floor bar/restaurant/entertainment venue.
Mr Peter Coyne, chief executive of the Docklands Authority, said he was delighted the band had taken the top floors. He said the tower would be the first development at the end of Sir John Rogerson's Quay and that it would create a new landmark gateway to the city.
A spokesperson for the band said: "We are proud to be a Dublin band. We did not want to break our strong association with the Docklands and this development gives us the opportunity to secure the unique nature of accommodation we need in a truly remarkable and exciting way".
The competition comes after the Development Authority placed a compulsory purchase order earlier this year on the band's studio, then located at Hanover Quay.
U2 lost their battle to save the studio after An Bord Pleanála approved plans for development of the site as a civic amenity relating to the Grand Canal Harbour development.