The original contract for the U2 gig at WRTC (now WIT) in 1980
Celebrations are underway this year as WIT hits the big "Five-Oh" but another anniversary occurs today, February 28th, as it's 40 years since a little known band called U2 played the WRTC canteen.
Eoin Ronayne, now Deputy General Secretary at Fórsa trade union, the man who booked the band to play in Waterford on behalf of the Student’s Union has shared the original contract (pictured above) for the booking on behalf of the Students’ Union with WIT to mark the anniversary. Oh how times have changed!
Ronayne, though not a student at the college, was a Waterford native involved in the arts and a local pirate radio station with the names and connections in Dublin to book rock bands on behalf of the Students’ Union.
As you'll see in the photo, the contract outlines that U2 charged £300 for the gig and requested sandwiches, beer and minerals to be provided in the dressing room. I'm sure it would be more or less the same price today to get Bono and the lads down to the The Dome?!
The U2 gig was part of a regular series of performances staged back in the day at the WRTC canteen. The gig was a sell out with 400 attending. A few months later U2 played the Showboat in Waterford and only 200 attended.
Eoin Ronayne joined us this morning on The Big Breakfast Blaa. You can listen back to our chat here..
