As part of the Office’s ongoing collaboration with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland – The Brussels Platform – in November we presented the acclaimed poetry of Frank Ormsby and celebrated music of Anthony Toner to an audience of senior officials in Brussels.
Anthony and Frank collaborated early in 2018 on the lauded ACNI supported project ‘The Kiss of Light’, an album featuring poems read by Frank and instrumentals composed and performed by Anthony on guitar. The evening featured readings from Frank – by turns profoundly moving and laugh-out-loud funny – some of the beautiful instrumentals from ‘The Kiss of Light’, and a selection of stirring songs from Anthony’s extensive back catalogue.
The audience, including several Ambassadors, senior representatives from EU institutions, and key senior contacts and stakeholders from across Brussels, were charmed by Anthony and Frank’s easy camaraderie and unique talent. While enjoying the artists, the audience were also delighted to tuck into a menu presented by chefs Simon Dougan and Stephen Dowds of Yellow Door, and designed to celebrate the local produce and culinary flare of Northern Ireland.