Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall was almost full last night for a Famine commemoration concert featuring Dr Charlie Lennon's newly extended flight from the Hungry Land suite. The work, which was first performed in Dublin in its shorter version earlier this year, received a rapturous welcome.
The attendance included Minister of State, Ms Avril Doyle; Ireland's Ambassador to Britain, Mr Edward Barrington; and the British Ambassador to Ireland, Ms Veronica Sutherland.
The event had been the subject of some complaints from the Irish community in Liverpool, who accused the organising committees in Dublin and Liverpool of ignoring the ordinary people in favour of an elitist group of academics and politicians.
However, last night's audience responded with enthusiasm to the suite, which was performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra conducted by Proinnsias O Duinn.