Well oil be, singer under hammer

The painting is based on a press photograph of the rock star

An oil painting showing U2's Bono receiving an honorary knighthood is to go under the hammer in Dublin.

The piece by Irish artist David Nolan is expected to fetch up to 3,000 euro (about £2,090) in a sale next month at James Adam auctioneers.

The image is based on a picture taken by Press Association photographer Julien Behal.

He captured the singer as he declared he accepted the honour on condition nobody called him "sir".

The Irish rock star was awarded the honour in March in recognition of his contribution to music and humanitarian work in a brief ceremony at British Ambassador to Ireland David Reddaway's official residence in Dublin.

Bono, like other Irish recipients of an honorary knighthood, is technically not entitled to be called "sir" as he is not a British citizen.

But on the day he received the honour, Bono was taking no chances.

The 46-year-old told reporters: "By the way, you can call me pretty much anything you want, except sir."

The artist responsible for the painting, David Nolan, was born in Dublin in 1966 and has painted portraits of other famous figures including Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley.