DUBLIN, Ireland: U2's legendary guitarist, The Edge, has hailed June 23 as a "monumental day" after he officially became an Irish citizen.

David Howell Evans, 63, originally hails from Essex, England, where he was born to Welsh parents, but his family relocated to Ireland when he was just a year old.

His citizenship was granted during a ceremony in Killarney, County Kerry, on June 23. This was part of an event in which 7,500 people would receive Irish citizenship over two days. The Edge described the occasion as an "amazingly joyful event."

"For all of us, it's a monumental day," he shared with RTÉ, donning his signature hat and an Irish flag badge on his jacket. "I may have been a bit slow with the paperwork—I've lived in Ireland since I was one—but the timing feels right, and I couldn't be prouder of my country and what it represents. Ireland is demonstrating real leadership on the world stage right now, and this recognition couldn't have arrived at a better moment for me."

As a founding member of U2, The Edge has been part of the band since its inception in Dublin in the late 1970s, earning numerous music awards along the way. U2 is well-known for their politically charged songs, including "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which addresses the violence against unarmed protesters in Londonderry in 1972, "New Year's Day," which became synonymous with the Polish Solidarity movement, and "Pride (In The Name of Love)," a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. The band has also been active in advocating for peace in Northern Ireland, notably supporting the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Most recently, U2 performed "Sunday Bloody Sunday" at the Ivors award ceremony, calling for an end to war. This performance came as the band became the first Irish songwriters to receive an Academy Fellowship during the 70th anniversary of the awards, held at London's Grosvenor House.