U2's place in rock culture is already secure, but still the world celebrates them as an "Irish band." In this book, Irish journalist and friend of U2, John Waters, attempts to pinpoint the Irish cultural genius from which U2 emerged. Piecing together fragments of a hidden ancestry, he articulates the band's unique magic which has captivated a generation. Is the band's "Irishness" the secret of its appeal? This book is a search of the essence of one of the greatest rock'n'roll bands of the past decade.