FEATURE MATCHER FOR STORY BC LEISURE IRISH POPSTARS, 2001-08-25 (photo)

U2 superstar Bono sings into the fans during the blockbuster 'Elevation' summer tour to Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland, in this file photo taken August 25, 2001. Renowned during the Dark Ages as the island of saints and scholars, Ireland these days seems more like a breeding ground for star-struck singers and dancers. Over the past decade, the country has spawned a dazzling array of pop acts whose songs have stormed hit parades from Dublin to Darwin. With their light-hearted, frothy tunes - often covers of old hits like Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" and Cat Stevens's "Father and Son" - plus photogenic music videos, pop groups such as Boyzone, Westlife and The Corrs have sold millions of records worldwide. They have also revitalised an Irish music industry grown over-reliant on veteran rockers U2 and the traditional Irish dance extravaganza "Riverdance". REUTERS/Paul McErlane PM