John Lennon was Irish, as were all his Beatles bandmates.
At an Amnesty International event in New York Bono has claimed The Beatles frontman as his own countryman.
John Lennon's grandfather was born in Dublin.
Bono said "I am resisting the temptation but only barely to claim John Lennon as one more Irish immigrant to an island that's crawling with Irish immigrants... but I'm going to actually. Let's claim all of The Beatles, not as immigrants, but as Irish."
He went on to clarify that all of the fab four were of Irish parentage.
Amnesty was honouring Lennnon with the unveiling of a tapestry commissioned for Yoko Ono by the humanitarian organisation. The piece was made by way of thanks to Ono for allowing Amnesty record Lennon's tracks for fundraising purposes. Over the years those re-records have brought $5 million in funds.
Replicating John Lennon's famous peace sign in front of the Statue of Liberty Photo: Amnesty International
Bono said Lennon's lyrics had always spoken to him as a teenager in Dublin and admitted he still struggles to meet the challenges set down by the Liverpudlian in his lyrics. "Are we going to give peace a chance... The answer is love!" Bono said.
He urged people to use their memories of John Lennon, the immigrant to New York, to remind themselves of the struggle of some 12 million emigrants from Syria, who have fled their homes because of conflict.
And John Lennon's widow Yoko said, "John is with us because John's words are still with us. Please be kind, be peaceful and be loving."
Today, the city of New York declares July 29th #JohnLennonDay pic.twitter.com/9xnglk7k7Z
— Art For Amnesty (@ArtForAmnestyUS) July 29, 2015
.@U2's Bono beautifully addresses the #JohnLennonDay ceremony. pic.twitter.com/68qHWmNpuq
— Art For Amnesty (@ArtForAmnestyUS) July 29, 2015
