A gala concert to mark the centenary of an historic west Belfast monastery has been attended by Irish President Mary McAleese.

The head of state was joined by Northern Ireland executive members, including arts minister, Michael McGimpsey, and Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun, who holds the health portfolio.

Sinn Fein leader and the area's MP Gerry Adams also attended the concert in Clonard Monastery off, the nationalist Falls Road.

Entitled Requiem for a Millennium, it featured the Ulster Orchestra and a number of local choirs.

The event, organised by the local community festival, Feile an Phobail, was held to mark 100 years since the monastery was built.

The building is close to the peaceline which divides it from the loyalist Shankill Road.

Fr Alec Reid, a priest based at the monastery, has been involved in the negotiations which led to the two most recent IRA ceasefires.

The festivities took two years to organise.