U2 band members own the Clarence Hotel in the centre of Dublin and this week have won their legal battle to redevelop it into a new modern landmark.

Bono and guitarist The Edge drew up a €150 million (£118.5 million) plan to redesign the Clarence Hotel by British architect Lord Norman Foster.

The hotel will be the venue for many luxury holidays in Dublin - it will hav 166 rooms and several futuristic features such as a floodlit glass atrium.

Heritage campaigners found the plans rather controversial saying the development contradicted the conservative planning laws of Ireland, adversely affecting the Temple Bar area’s visual appeal.

However, Ireland’s planning authority, An Bord Pleanala, seemed to disagree with their objections and the proposals were given the go ahead.

In a statement from the Clarence Hotel, the U2 stars said:

“We believe it’s great news for Dublin and for Temple Bar in particular, where we’ve been working for over 20 years and where a hotel has been trading on the Clarence site for 177 years.”

Bono and The Edge bought Clarence Hotel in 1992, making it into a five star establishment.  Famous guests have included former US President Bill Clinton and several international rock stars.

Flights to Dublin are available from many major UK airports.