A festival of fireworks and song greeted Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney at Queen’s University when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award during the university’s Centenary Charter Day celebration.

The former Queen’s lecturer received his award last night after the world premiere of Anahorish, a piece of music inspired by Heaney’s poem of the same name.

Commissioned by Queen’s Graduates’ Association (QGA) to honour one of its most notable living graduates, the piece was composed by Queen’s graduate Deirdre Gribben, whose father William is originally from Anahorish.

The piece was sung by soprano Linda Barrett, one of a quartet formed for the occasion.

Also present at the Centenary celebration was Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and well known broadcaster Nick Ross, a former deputy president of Queen’s Students’ Union.

The special guests joined over 300 of the university’s staff, students, graduates and friends at the dinner in the Sir William Whitla Hall at Queen’s.

Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said: “One hundred years ago today, Queen’s officially became a university in its own right when King Edward VII granted its Royal Charter.

“Throughout our Centenary year we have celebrated with students, staff and alumni from around the world. During a Royal visit earlier this year, Her Majesty the Queen unveiled the Centenary Stone, on which is carved the Centenary Stanza, penned to mark the occasion by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, one of our most distinguished graduates.

“I am therefore delighted that Seamus is with us tonight to receive his lifetime achievement award. His impact on arts and literature has achieved global recognition and his contribution to Queen’s University has been immense.

“I cannot think of a more fitting way to close our Centenary celebrations than by honouring one of the most eminent graduates in the university’s 100 year history.”

The university’s new library, due to open next year, will feature a multi-storey open atrium, accommodate 2,000 readers, house 1.5m volumes and includes exhibition space, a cafe, a language laboratory and multi-media resources. Costing £45m, the Sir Anthony O'Reilly Library — named after the Independent News and Media chief executive who was a major benefactor — is the centre piece of a £200m building programme at Queen's.