If we were Bono, we don't really know whether we'd be flattered and proud, or just a teeny bit afraid that everywhere we went in Dublin, people were talking about us.

His name rings out from the pubs on Temple Bar, from the mouths of tourists up at Malahide Castle (just a short train ride out of the city), in the whispers of excited hotel staff and from the chattering lips of local taxi drivers:

"I took Bono there yesterday"
"I served Bono the other week"
"I gave Bono his pint last night and he liked it"

Even a friend, whilst laughing at this observation, said "Yeah, I sat in a traffic jam next to him last month, on the way to the airport. I did a double take, but he clocked me and waved. I love Bono."

No matter where you go in Dublin, you can't escape Bono, although quite ironically, its people seem incessantly proud of how they treat him "like a normal person". The truth is, you've got as much chance of bumping into the U2 rocker in Dublin as you have of capturing a leprechaun, stumbling upon a pot of gold, or tripping over the end of a rainbow. But it doesn't stop people trying.

There's more to this bustling Irish city than the frontman of a legendary rock band, of course, but if you're really planning a U2 pilgrimage you won't want to miss a snap of The Clarence - the hotel Bono's bought and refurbished along with fellow band member, The Edge. Stay the night and you're a stone's throw away from the liveliest part of town, Temple Bar, where the session musicians tour the pubs, playing their fiddles as locals and tourists alike get up nightly (and with zero shame) for a proper, Irish jig.

To be treated like a celeb, or for the chance to bump into one, you could do worse than to head to the The Dylan - it's where the stars stay when they're in town and is located just a stroll over the Grand Canal, along the historic Baggot Street. Celeb sightings here have included Van Morrison, Gavin Friday, Eddie Irvine, Brian O'Driscoll, Sinead O'Conner (and of course, Bono). Every room is like a private fantasy - we were suitably impressed by the mood music (phone ahead and let them know what to play for your arrival). Sleep between satin sheets in your individually designed room, sip from the mini bar and if you do feel the inclination to escape, the Still Restaurant's chef, Padraic Hayden serves up some of the finest food in town, downstairs. Try the thyme roast chicken with fresh peas and boulangere potato prior to the Guinness on Temple Bar - well, you have to line your stomach somehow!

Another plush pad to call your own when in town would be The Morrison, right in the heart of the city, overlooking the River Liffey. With a funky and unique "East Meets West" theme, this luxury boutique hotel screams "classy" in a way that makes you want to do some pretty... well... less than classy things behind closed doors. Think towering statues, high ceilings, gorgeous bedsheets, snuggly robes, mammoth TVs and a bubble bath with champers from the mini bar. Rock and Roll! Another cool touch are the Apple Mac LCD screens with wireless keyboards, and for the ladies who travel light but can't beat the frizz, you'll find GHD hair straighteners in every suite. Sweet!

For another upper class affair, take in tea at the Shelbourne. This 5-star hotel was built in 1824 and is still a place to see and be seen. It has recently been restored, but hasn't lost an inch of its charm and overlooks the gorgeous St Stephen's Green - another great spot to take in lunch whilst indulging in a bit of people-watching - is it a bird, is it a plane, or a plain bird who looks a bit like Bono?

If you're after something slightly off the beaten track, so to speak, the hoards flock to the Guinness Factory, but the Jameson Distillary is actually a much better tour and even better value for money. Taste an assortment of whiskies and pretend you're back in the olden days - when Bono was just a twinkle in his father's Irish eyes.

Cor, imagine that - a world without Bono. We don't know what Dublin would do.

Dylan Hotel Dublin Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4
T: +353 1 6603000 | F: +353 1 6603005 E: justask@dylan.ie

Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland
T: +353 1 887 2400 F: +353 1 878 3185
E: info@morrisonhotel.ie

Fly to Dublin with Etihad - www.etihad.com