Cathal McCarron said the love of the band began as a young boy in his Foyle Springs home and over the last 24 years the group has been one of the few constants in his life.

That relationship now serves as a backdrop to the young author's life story in " Me &U2, their music, my life."

" Outside of my family life and a few life long friends, my relationship with U2 is arguably the longest lasting relationship in my life. In that sense, much as the same way Nick Hornby does with Arsenal Football Club in Fever Pitch, it made sense shape the book around that relationship" he told the 'Journal'.

"This is the story of the many places where, the many times when, and the many ways how, U2 have inspired, entertained, influenced and enraged me: with their music, their lyrics, their concerts and their concepts."

The debut author, who has published the book himself, said writing the autobiographical work proved to be a cathartic experience.

"I started around February and over the course of 11 or 12 weeks it started to come together. At times I was writing a year of my life in a single night , then going back over it.

" It proved to be a lot of fun and it was great going over so many memories."

Cathal said to date the feedback from the book has been " very positive."

He said the book's appeal was not limited only to U2 fans.

" Someone said to me that its refreshing to read a book about growing up in Derry that doesn't focus on the Troubles as such. In the first third of the book have tried to capture the era, a sense of what it was like growing up in Derry."

Cathal, who files to the US next week to see U2 said there was no doubt as to what he would do should sales of the book take off.

" Ideally the book will fund my travels. This year U2 are playing in the States, Canada and possibly Australia and New Zealand. I would love to have enough money to travel with them," he said.

The Derryman's book can be purchased online at www.meandu2.net