BELFAST-Born actor Stephen Rea paid tribute to the late Poet Laureate, Seamus Heaney, at a special concert at the waterfront Hall last night.
The acclaimed performer, who worked with Heaney in the Field Day Theatre company, read several of the Co Derry writer's most famous poems, including anahorish, Personal Helicon and north.
Speaking before the concert, he said the invitation to read his friend's work was "an
indescribable honour". Rea read as part of 'an Evening for Seamus', hosted by the Ulster orchestra.
The orchestra performed several of Heaney's favourite pieces of music, including Vaughan williams's The Lark ascending and Thomas Tallis's o Lord, Give Thy Holy Spirit. Heaney, who died in august at the age of 74, was described by the american poet robert Lowell as "the most important Irish poet since yeats".
* FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Hugh Heaney, Seamus Heaney's brother, and family friends Gerardine and Eugene Kielt, attend last night's tribute to the poet at the Waterfront Hall PICTURES: Cliff Donaldson
* POETRY EMOTION: Belfast actor Stephen Rea reads during last night's tribute to Seamus Heaney, 'An Evening with Seamus' at the Waterfront Hall
PICTURE: Cliff Donaldson