U2 star Bono heaped praise on freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi as he presented her with a distinguished human rights award in Ireland on Monday.

The rocker met Myanmar opposition leader Suu Kyi for the first time in Oslo, Norway before flying with her in his private jet to his native Dublin for the evening's Electric Burma concert in her honor.

Suu Kyi was treated to performances by dance troupe Riverdance, Benin singer Angelique Kidjo, and rapper Lupe Fiasco, while Bono took to the stage to hand her Amnesty International's top prize, the Ambassador of Conscience award.

He thanked the democracy hero for her tireless campaigning, telling Suu Kyi, "We know there are many, many other places you could be and we understand the signal your presence here sends out and we are humbled, we are grateful."

Suu Kyi won the award in 2009 but was unable to pick it up in person as she was under house arrest for behavior Burmese officials deemed was "likely to undermine the community peace and stability" of the country.

The activist, who was also given a cake to mark her 67th birthday on Tuesday, told the crowd, "I have discovered how much more people care. I had not expected this. I had not known how much they cared. This has come as a surprise to me, and a very moving one."