Can you spot the rock star in the above photo?

The great Irish runner Eamonn Coghlan was interviewed on the RTE Late Late Show last Friday. During the chat, Eamonn shared a “Bono story.” He mentioned that when he returned to Ireland after competing in the 1976 Olympic Games, there was a lot of hoopla, including an autograph signing event at a sporting goods store in Dublin.

About nine years later, Eamonn was at the Meadowlands in New Jersey watching a U2 show. Afterwards, he met with the band and Bono told him that he had been among the fans who waited in line to get Eamonn’s autograph at that 1976 autograph signing event. Bono said that he had brought along his little nephew, who he carried on his shoulders.

Fast forward to this past year, Coghlan is doing research for a book he is writing about his life, going through old newspaper clippings saved by his mom, and he ran across the above photo from that 1976 signing. (That is the track star at left, with the rock-star-to-be staring right into the camera).

Sidenote: Would Bono have had a nephew that age in 1976? Not sure. I’m just retelling the story Eamonn told …

The RTE also showed the below shot of Eamonn with Bono and Adam, presumably taken at that Meadowlands show in 1985.

I’m not going to pretend I posted this for any reason other than to share that first shot of 16 (?) year old Bono, but if you are a fan of sports and/or Irishmen, I highly recommend watching the interview, too. Pretty interesting conversation.

(Thanks to Emmett for the tip !)

-This post brought to you by Scatter O’ Light.