Painting of Bono up for auction

A painting showing U2’s Bono receiving an honorary knighthood is to go under the hammer.

The oil painting by Irish artist David Nolan is expected to fetch up to €3,000 in a sale of contemporary art on October 2 at James Adam auctioneers in Dublin.

The image is based on a picture taken by photographer Julien Behal, captured as Bono declared he accepted the knighthood on condition nobody called him “Sir”.

The Irish rock star was awarded the honour in March in recognition of his contribution to music and humanitarian work in a brief ceremony at British Ambassador to Ireland David Reddaway’s official residence in Dublin.

Bono, like other Irish recipients of an honorary knighthood, is technically not entitled to be called “sir” as he is not a British citizen.

But on the day he received the honour, Bono was taking no chances.

The 46-year-old told reporters: “By the way, you can call me pretty much anything you want, except sir.”

The singer added: “You can call me lord of lords or a demi-god...”

Fellow band members The Edge and Adam Clayton joined the lead singer’s wife Ali and the couple’s four children – Jordan, Eve, Eli and John – for the reception.

At the ceremony Mr Reddaway joked that Bono’s family and friends might be disappointed that there were no swords or kneeling involved.

But in a nod to his egocentric reputation, the rock star put his hand on the ambassador’s shoulder and remarked: “Please, I wasn’t expecting you to kneel.”

The artist responsible for the painting, David Nolan, was born in Dublin in 1966 and has painted portraits of other famous figures including Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley.