Van the Man ‘delighted’ to become Van the Freeman

Morrison will play free concert night he is conferred with honour

Van Morrison who has said he was ’honoured and delighted’ to have been granted the freedom of his native Belfast. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Van Morrison who has said he was ’honoured and delighted’ to have been granted the freedom of his native Belfast. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Van Morrison yesterday expressed his pleasure at receiving the freedom of Belfast and announced he would play a free concert the night he was officially conferred.

In a statement he said he was "delighted and honoured" that Belfast City Council on Monday night voted to make him a freeman of his native city.

“Belfast is my home. It is where I first heard the music that influenced and inspired me, it is where I first performed and it is somewhere I have referred back to many times in my songwriting over the past 50 years,” he said.

His conferment will take place in the Ulster Hall on November 15th.

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Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times