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Sunday 24 of November 2024

Van Morrison sings at friend's funeral in Northern Ireland


Mourners carry the coffin at the funeral of Ulster historian and politician Dr Ian Adamson at Conlig Presbyterian Church in County Down, Northern Ireland, Monday Jan. 14, 2019. Van Morrison has performed one of his best-loved songs  “Into the Mystic” - long seen as one of his most mysterious and evocative songs - at the funeral of his longtime friend the historian and politician Ian Adamson.(Michael McHugh/PA via AP),Mourners carry the coffin at the funeral of Ulster historian and politician Dr Ian Adamson at Conlig Presbyterian Church in County Down, Northern Ireland, Monday Jan. 14, 2019. Van Morrison has performed one of his best-loved songs  “Into the Mystic” - long seen as one of his most mysterious and evocative songs - at the funeral of his longtime friend the historian and politician Ian Adamson.(Michael McHugh/PA via AP)
Mourners carry the coffin at the funeral of Ulster historian and politician Dr Ian Adamson at Conlig Presbyterian Church in County Down, Northern Ireland, Monday Jan. 14, 2019. Van Morrison has performed one of his best-loved songs “Into the Mystic” - long seen as one of his most mysterious and evocative songs - at the funeral of his longtime friend the historian and politician Ian Adamson.(Michael McHugh/PA via AP),Mourners carry the coffin at the funeral of Ulster historian and politician Dr Ian Adamson at Conlig Presbyterian Church in County Down, Northern Ireland, Monday Jan. 14, 2019. Van Morrison has performed one of his best-loved songs “Into the Mystic” - long seen as one of his most mysterious and evocative songs - at the funeral of his longtime friend the historian and politician Ian Adamson.(Michael McHugh/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Van Morrison has performed one of his best-loved songs at the funeral of his longtime friend, the historian and politician Ian Adamson.

Morrison sang “Into the Mystic” — one of his most mysterious, evocative songs — at Adamson’s funeral Monday at Conlig Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland.

The 1970 song was apparently Adamson’s favorite.

The funeral was also attended by Irish President Michael Higgins and ex-Formula One racing star Eddie Irvine.

Adamson was a former Lord Mayor of Belfast and the author of a series of books exploring the roots of Northern Ireland’s identity.

He died Wednesday at 74.