Alison Hewson
Encyclopedia
Alison "Ali" Hewson is an Irish businesswoman and activist, and wife of U2
's lead singer Bono
. As a businesswoman, Ali is the co-founder of both EDUN
Clothing and NUDE Skincare. Chief among her efforts as an activist is her work with Chernobyl Children's Project International
.
, a suburb located on Dublin's Northside
, and she studied at Mount Temple Comprehensive School
where she met Bono.
They began dating in November 1975. Soon after the death of Bono's mother, Stewart took care of Bono, cleaning his clothes, going to school with him, and cooking for him. She married Bono on 21 August 1982 in a Church of Ireland (Anglican)
ceremony at All Saints Church
, Raheny. Together they have four children: daughters Jordan (b. 10 May 1989) and Memphis Eve (b. 7 July 1991), and sons Elijah Bob Patricus Guggi Q (b. 18 August 1999) and John Abraham (b. 21 May 2001).
in Sociology
and Political Science
from University College Dublin
(UCD) in 1989, shortly after giving birth to her first daughter, Jordan. Before that, Hewson worked in a motor insurance company, and with her father, in his electrical business.
Hewson is a founder of the EDUN
fashion label, which encourages fair trade
with third world nations
and the abolition of sweatshop
s and child labour. She is also co-founder of Nude skincare with Bryan Meehan
, a luxury, natural skincare company.
She has been voted Sexiest Celebrity Other Half.
of Chernobyl Children's Project International
, an organization that works with children, families and communities who continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. She participated in Greenpeace
protests against the Sellafield
reprocessing plant and narrated Black Wind White Land
, an Irish film which highlighted the plight of victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. She also participated in the film "Chernobyl Heart
" with Adi Roche
.
sessions. She appears in the song's music video
and received income from its sales. She gave all proceeds to Chernobyl Children's Project International.
Furthermore, Bono dedicated U2's song "All I Want Is You" to her.
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's lead singer Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
. As a businesswoman, Ali is the co-founder of both EDUN
EDUN
EDUN was launched in Spring 2005 by Ali Hewson and her husband, U2 singer Bono as a for-profit fashion brand with a mission to encourage trade with Africa and raise awareness of the possibilities there....
Clothing and NUDE Skincare. Chief among her efforts as an activist is her work with Chernobyl Children's Project International
Chernobyl Children's Project International
Chernobyl Children's Project International is a United Nations-accredited international development, medical, and humanitarian organization that works with children, families and communities that continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.- Purpose :The organization was...
.
Biography
Hewson is the daughter of Terry and Joy Stewart, and a granddaughter of Hector Grey, a well known Dublin trader and shop owner. Alison grew up in RahenyRaheny
Raheny is a northern suburb of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. It is an old area, centred around an old village, and is referenced back to 570 AD but after years of light settlement, with a main village and a coastal hamlet, grew rapidly in the 20th century, and is now a mid-density...
, a suburb located on Dublin's Northside
Northside (Dublin)
The Northside is the area in County Dublin, Ireland bounded to the south by the River Liffey to the east by Dublin Bay, to the north and west by the boundaries of County Dublin.- Introduction :...
, and she studied at Mount Temple Comprehensive School
Mount Temple Comprehensive School
Mount Temple Comprehensive School is a secondary school located in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland, originally notable as the first multi-denominational public school under Protestant management to open in Dublin....
where she met Bono.
They began dating in November 1975. Soon after the death of Bono's mother, Stewart took care of Bono, cleaning his clothes, going to school with him, and cooking for him. She married Bono on 21 August 1982 in a Church of Ireland (Anglican)
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
ceremony at All Saints Church
All Saints Church, Raheny
All Saints' Church is the Church of Ireland Parish Church of the Parish of Raheny, prominent on the Howth Road as it approaches the centre of Raheny, Dublin, Ireland...
, Raheny. Together they have four children: daughters Jordan (b. 10 May 1989) and Memphis Eve (b. 7 July 1991), and sons Elijah Bob Patricus Guggi Q (b. 18 August 1999) and John Abraham (b. 21 May 2001).
Career
Although she wanted to become a nurse, Hewson gave up her career ambitions to foster her relationship with her new husband. She received a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD) in 1989, shortly after giving birth to her first daughter, Jordan. Before that, Hewson worked in a motor insurance company, and with her father, in his electrical business.
Hewson is a founder of the EDUN
EDUN
EDUN was launched in Spring 2005 by Ali Hewson and her husband, U2 singer Bono as a for-profit fashion brand with a mission to encourage trade with Africa and raise awareness of the possibilities there....
fashion label, which encourages fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
with third world nations
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
and the abolition of sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
s and child labour. She is also co-founder of Nude skincare with Bryan Meehan
Bryan Meehan
Bryan Meehan is an English born, Irish raised businessman who created the popular Fresh and Wild organic stores in London, and more recently, for founding the all-natural Nude skincare range.- Fresh & Wild :...
, a luxury, natural skincare company.
She has been voted Sexiest Celebrity Other Half.
Activism
Hewson is a patronPatronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
of Chernobyl Children's Project International
Chernobyl Children's Project International
Chernobyl Children's Project International is a United Nations-accredited international development, medical, and humanitarian organization that works with children, families and communities that continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.- Purpose :The organization was...
, an organization that works with children, families and communities who continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. She participated in Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
protests against the Sellafield
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
reprocessing plant and narrated Black Wind White Land
Black Wind White Land
Black Wind, White Land is a 1993 documentary film, researched and produced by the founders of the Chernobyl Children's Project International and explores the tragedy about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 and its consequences and handicapped development for the people of Belarus, Russia and...
, an Irish film which highlighted the plight of victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. She also participated in the film "Chernobyl Heart
Chernobyl Heart
Chernobyl Heart is a 2003 documentary film by Maryann DeLeo. The film won the Best Documentary Short Subject award at the 2004 Academy Awards....
" with Adi Roche
Adi Roche
Adi Roche is a campaigner for peace, humanitarian aid, and education. She is the chief executive of Irish-based charity Chernobyl Children's Project International, and in November 2010 received the Health Award at the World of Children Awards ceremony.-Campaign work:As founder and chief executive...
.
Hewson and U2
The U2 song "The Sweetest Thing" was given to Hewson as a gift because Bono forgot her birthday while writing and recording with the band during The Joshua TreeThe Joshua Tree
The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records. In contrast to the ambient experimentation of their 1984 release The Unforgettable Fire, U2 aimed for a harder-hitting sound on The Joshua...
sessions. She appears in the song's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and received income from its sales. She gave all proceeds to Chernobyl Children's Project International.
Furthermore, Bono dedicated U2's song "All I Want Is You" to her.
Further reading
- Flanagan, B. (1996) U2: At the End of the World. New York: Delta.
- Stokes, N. (2001). Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press.