Ali Hewson

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Alison Hewson
Born Alison Stewart
23 March 1961 (1961-03-23) (age 47)
Dublin
Residence Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Other names Ali Hewson
Education B.A. in Sociology & Politics
Alma mater University College Dublin
Occupation Housewife
Religious beliefs Church of Ireland Anglican
Spouse Bono (Paul Hewson)
Children 4
Parents Terry and Joy Stewart
Website
http://alihewson.com/

Alison Hewson (born Alison Stewart on 23 March 1961), known as Ali Hewson, is an activist and wife of U2's lead singer Bono.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

A daughter of Terry and Joy Stewart, Alison studied at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin where she met Bono.[2]

They began dating in November 1975. Soon after the death of Bono's mother, Stewart took care of Bono, cleaning his clothes, going to school with him, and cooking food for him to eat.[2] Ali married Bono on 21 August 1982 in a Church of Ireland (Anglican) ceremony at All Saints Church, Raheny (built by the Guinness family).[3] Ali and Bono have four children: daughters Jordan and Memphis Eve; sons Elijah Bob Patricius and John Abraham.[4] The couple now lives in Killiney, in south County Dublin, Ireland. They also have a villa in Èze in the Alpes-Maritimes in the south of France with U2 bandmate The Edge, as well as an apartment at The San Remo in Manhattan.[5]

[edit] Career

Although she wanted to become a nurse, Ali gave up her career ambitions to foster her relationship with her new husband.[6] She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from University College Dublin (UCD) in 1989, shortly after giving birth to her first daughter, Jordan.[6] Before that, Ali worked in a motor insurance company, and with her father, in his electrical business.[6]

Ali is a founder of the EDUN fashion label, which encourages fair trade with third world nations and the abolition of sweatshops and child labour.[7]

[edit] Activism

Hewson is a patron of Chernobyl Children's Project International, an organization accredited by the United Nations that works with children, families and communities who continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.[8] She participated in Greenpeace protests against the Sellafield reprocessing plant and narrated Black Wind, White Land, an Irish film which highlighted the plight of victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.[9] She also participated in the film "Chernobyl Heart" with Adi Roche.

In addition to her own work, she has travelled and appeared with Bono extensively when participating in activist events such as campaigning against third world poverty.

[edit] Ali and U2

The U2 song "The Sweetest Thing" was given to Ali as a gift because Bono forgot her birthday while writing and recording with the band during The Joshua Tree sessions. She appears in the song's music video and received income from its sales. She gave all proceeds to Chernobyl Children's Project International.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

  • Flanagan, B. (1996) U2: At the End of the World. New York: Delta.
  • Stokes, N. (2001). Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ BBC News. (2002, May 03). Ali Hewson: More than Mrs Bono. BBC News. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/newsmakers/1966198.stm
  2. ^ a b Cunningham, F. (1993, October 01). Ali Hewson interview: In The Name of Love. More magazine.
  3. ^ @U2. (Unknown last update). Biography:Adam Clayton. Retrieved May 03, 2007, from atu2.com; Moss, V. (2006, December 24). The Unforgettable Sire. Sunday Mirror. Retrieved May 03, 2007, from The Unforgettable Sire; McIntosh, E. (2006, October 3). In music and love, U2 has staying power. Staten Island Advance.
  4. ^ IMDB. (Unknown last update). Bono - Biography. Retrieved May 02, 2005, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095104/bio
  5. ^ Scott, P. (2006, August 11). St Bono the hypocrite? Daily Mail. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from St Bono the hypocrite?
  6. ^ a b c d IMDb. (Unknown last update). Biography for Ali Hewson. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1893224/bio
  7. ^ EDUN (Unknown last update). About EDUN. Retrieved March 24, 2007, from http://www.edun.ie/about.asp
  8. ^ Rosema, L. (2006). Biography. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://alihewson.com/bio.htm
  9. ^ IMDb. (Unknown last update). Black Wind, White Land: Living with Chernobyl. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903601/

[edit] External links

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