The Newshound

U2 bring Dublin to a standstill with surprise school and Grafton Street gigs to mark FIFTY years together

From the Newshound archive · first published 26 September 2026.

U2 marked 50 years since Larry Mullen Jr pinned his "Drummer seeks musicians" note on a Mount Temple Comprehensive School noticeboard by returning to play a surprise afternoon gig in the same yard where they once rehearsed. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Mullen opened with 'I Will Follow' before debuting new single 'Silencio' from their forthcoming album 'Carnaval De Luz'. That evening, crowds packed Grafton Street as the band played greatest hits from the balcony of Bewley's Café to thousands of fans who had made the pilgrimage to Dublin. Ireland also issued a special commemorative €2 coin in the band's honour to mark the anniversary.

Ivan McCormick, who attended that very first rehearsal aged 13, said: 'I was there. I witnessed the first spark.'

'Carnaval De Luz', the band's 16th studio album and first of new material since 2017, features a duet between Bono and Dolly Parton.

Speculation is growing that a tour announcement is imminent, with fans hoping for Croke Park dates next summer.

MoreBBC NewsU2 celebrate 50th anniversary at the school where they formedEvening StandardThousands gifted surprise U2 gig in Dublin for band’s 50th ‘birthday’Evening StandardU2 go back to school where they formed for special performanceAPU2 goes back to school to put on a show where it all began 50 years agoIrish TimesU2, born this day 50 years ago: ‘I was there. I witnessed the first spark’Irish TimesU2 play special gigs at Mount Temple Comprehensive and Grafton Street to mark 50th anniversaryIrish TimesU2 fans treated to surprise Dublin street performance to mark 50th anniversaryIrish Independent‘Thanks for coming’ - U2 play surprise gig at Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolIrish IndependentU2 perform surprise gig at Mount Temple Comprehensive - 50 years on from famous school ad seeking musiciansIrish IndependentU2 perform surprise concert at Mount Temple Comprehensive and bring Grafton Street to a standstill with gig at Bewley’s
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