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got a birthday bash and a half this week. His 80th birthday was celebrated at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland HQÌýwith family and friends, including the Nobel LaureateÌýSeamus Heaney and his wife Marie. The photo was taken in TP's house with Seamus, Marie, TP and his wife Sheila just before they headed to the birthday celebration.

Terry is a much loved man. Heaney dedicated "Bogland" to Terry, a poeticÌýcompliment to Terry'sÌý1967 painting

Leading artists, writers and painters including Heaney, Basil Blackshaw and Jack Packenham gathered at a special reception in McNeice House in Belfast to celebrate Terry'sÌý two score years and ten.

And while honouringÌýa genius painter of landscape they were also celebrating the man, someone who isÌýgreat company, full of stories and mischievous humour.

I know what good company TP is. Last year I spent a day in his childhood home of Fermanagh with himÌýand his wife Sheila for anÌýartsextra special.

We all piled into a hire car, me,Ìýthe producer, the FlanagansÌýand the sound man driving.ÌýTP refused theÌýfront seat and let Sheila sit there. I'm not a great car traveller and reluctantly squashed myself into the back seat between Terry and the producer, thinking that if I scanned the horizon I might ward off nausea.ÌýBut as we headed down theÌýM1 to FermanaghÌýTerry told story after story which made me forget any carsickness.Ìý

HeÌýtook me around his childhood haunts, from a wood outside Enniskillen, to a muddy field which inspired much of his boglandÌýpainting, even gallantly helping meÌýputÌýmy welliesÌýon and finally we sat onÌýa bench beside Lough Erne. And he talked and he remembered and he painted with words.

And then we all got back into the car again. And I didn't want the M1 to end.Ìý

You can hear TP Flanagan on Arts Extra here

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