Sweet Donaghadee: Neil Diamond goes fishing in County Down town

It was just your typical Monday afternoon in the small coastal town of Donaghadee, County Down.

That was until US singer songwriter Neil Diamond sailed out of the town's harbour for a day's fishing off the north coast.

Diamond is in Northern Ireland for two concerts in Belfast's Odyssey arena on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Best known for early 1970s hits such as Forever In Blue Jeans and Sweet Caroline, he has notched up 125 million record sales around the world.

But the New York-based star went relatively unnoticed as he hired a boat with his two grandchildren to go fishing on Monday.

He was accompanied by Quinton Nelson, who runs a boating business in Donaghadee.

He said the star appeared relaxed and was enjoying his time in Northern Ireland.

"We had to keep his visit quiet and were asked not to tell anyone that he was coming.

"I was navigating the boat while he was out fishing. He was only here for a couple of hours with his grandchildren."

The local businessman said he was impressed by the US star's fishing skills.

"I'd say between the three of them, they would have caught around half a dozen pollack, which is a white fish.

"He was enjoying himself and said he was looking forward to seeing the rest of the country," said Mr Nelson.

Diamond has been performing for five decades and is one of the biggest recording artists of all time.