No elevation as U2 fall down rich list

SPARE a thought for poor Bono as he campaigns for the impoverished Third World — for U2 are slipping down the league table of Ireland’s richest folk.

U2 have slipped from 13th to 20th in the space of just a year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List of Ireland’s 250 wealthiest people.

Despite the fall in ranking, in 2007 the four-piece are estimated to be worth €713 million.

Dublin’s favourite sons managed to keep their billing as Ireland’s richest entertainers and saw their wealth rise €26.3m on last year’s figure of €686.7m.

Also sliding down the league table of wealth is Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley, who will no doubt need every cent of his current €552m after becoming a father yesterday.

Co Cork resident Flatley is Ireland’s second-wealthiest entertainer but 24th overall on the table of Ireland’s 250 richest, having been 17th last year.

In a year he has seen his wealth grow by €3m, the same as a comfortable National Lottery win.

Former Clannad songstress Enya is the country’s third-richest entertainer and is reckoned to be worth €113m while Van Morrison is fourth with €74.7m.

Bob Geldof is in fifth place with €51.2m under his belt while every lady in red’s favourite, Chris de Burgh, is in the black to the tune of €46.9m.

The Sunday Times, which publishes in both London and Dublin, found Britain and Ireland’s rock acts are together worth almost €4.4 billion.

Despite giving up touring in 1966 and the death of two of their number, the Beatles occupy pole position and are worth around €1.5bn.

Their foes of the era, the Rolling Stones, are worth €835m — with more to come as the band still pack out stadiums worldwide.