The British pop music star, Sir Elton John, has played a concert in Northern Ireland in the grounds of Stormont -- the venue of the negotiations which led to the peace agreement approved by voters last week.

Sir Elton was asked to perform by the British prime minister, Tony Blair, and, in an unusual move, was introduced on stage by the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam.

Correspondents say there was a feeling in the crowd that the concert symbolised the new optimism felt by many in Northern Ireland.