A drink with a view for Dubliners

16:07:20 18th July 2008

U2 members Bono and the Edge have embarked on a €150 million project to transform Dublin's historic Clarence Hotel into a nine storey 140-bedroom five star hotel, complete with a giant glass atrium and glazed rooftop 'sky bar' with views over the city.

The plans will quadruple the size of the building and the main feature will be the oval glass roof, nicknamed 'sky catcher'.

Ireland's planning body An Bord Pleanala granted permission for the development with the proviso that the public will be granted access.

The owners seemed happy at the news and will be looking forward to seeing the final result.

"We are delighted that An Bord Pleanala has given us the green light for Norman Foster's design for The Clarence," a statement read.

"It's great news for the team that has worked so hard on this project."

The building was designed by architect Norman Foster, who was also responsible for the world's largest single span glasshouse, The Great Glasshouse in Carmarthenshire.