Among those to share in one of Van Morrison’s 70th birthday concerts at Cyprus Avenue, Belfast, on the Bank Holiday Monday was Finance Minister Arlene Foster.

She caught up with the world famous Northern Ireland singer at the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast, where he was having a meal between his two special performances, which were attended by fans who had travelled to East Belfast from around the world.

Speaking afterwards, Minister Foster described Sir Van’s concerts as “a very unique occasion given that he has decided to perform where he was brought up on his 70th birthday”.

Having attended the first of the two celebratory gigs in the famous tree-lined east Belfast avenue, she felt “it was really lovely to catch up with him afterwards.” Among those to join him in the Park Avenue Hotel on Monday afternoon was ex-Formula One driver Eddie Irvine, whom Arlene also met with. He was going on to the later performance.

The Cyprus Avenue concerts, which helped the music legend mark his birthday, were the climax of the EastSide Arts Festival.