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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Lauren Harte

New 'Rihanna tree' takes root at site of infamous video shoot in Bangor barley field

It's over 10 years since RnB singer Rihanna filmed the music video of her single 'We Found Love' in Northern Ireland.

The video was shot on location in parts of Co Down, as well as the New Lodge area of north Belfast, in late September 2011.

While photographs of Rihanna filming against a backdrop of New Lodge youths caused a stir in the locality, national news outlets picked up on the story of a farmer and his barley field.

Read more: Kevin Hart spotted filming new Netflix movie in Bangor park

Former DUP councillor, Alan Graham withdrew his permission for Rihanna and her crew to film in his field on the outskirts of Bangor, after taking issue with the singer's lack of clothing.

At the time, a vehicle belonging to the video production team had become stuck, and Mr Graham brought along a tractor to help pull it out.

But when he reached the field, he realised Rihanna was topless and so he intervened, asking her to put her clothes back on.

He was keen to stress that it was not a confrontation and they parted on perfectly polite terms.

The farmer said at the time that he had no idea who Rihanna was (Press Eye)

Mr Graham's farm is located on the main road from Bangor to Belfast and its tree has since become one of the most photographed trees in Northern Ireland.

But the tourist attraction has been damaged by storms down the years and has been dying for some time, prompting him to dig deep to mark two important milestones.

A few weeks ago, he and his wife Winifred planted a new cherry tree beside the decaying oak tree to mark both their golden wedding anniversary and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

"The 'Rihanna tree' as it's now known seems to be completely dead. Recently there appeared to be some green shoots but you can see the wood worm in it.

"There is still one branch leaning towards the carriageway but if that breaks off there will just be a stump left," Mr Graham told Belfast Live.

Farmer Alan Graham in his field outside Bangor, beside Rihanna's tree. (Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)

"We've sought advice and suspect that the tree has been there since the 1800s. My family has been here since 1914 when my grandfather took over the farm and it was there in his time."

Explaining his decision to plant a new tree, he said: "I met my wife Winifred when she was 17 and we got married when she was 19. People got married a lot younger in those days but times have changed!

"We planted the new cherry tree beside the old one one Monday night a few weeks ago as we marked 50 years of marriage in April."

The 2011 Rihanna tree incident reached a global audience, with American outlets such as CNN and ABC picking up on the story. Following it, Mr Graham received support for his stance from unlikely places.

Carry On and EastEnders star Barbara Windsor said at the time: "I don’t blame him. How old is he? Does he need that at his time of life, seeing Rihanna taking her top off? He doesn’t."

Rihanna pictured in Alan Graham's barley field in Bangor in late 2011 (Stephen Hamilton/Presseye.com)

Despite this, the music video for 'We Found Love' won a Grammy Award for 'Best Short-Form Music Video', while the song itself topped the Billboard charts and became one of Rihanna's best known hits.

In the decade since, Rihanna has cemented her place as one of popular music's biggest artists, securing billionaire status earlier this year, as well as creating her own make-up line, Fenty Beauty.

She welcomed her first child, a baby boy, on May 13, but has yet to share his name.

Mr Graham, meanwhile, represented the area of Ards and North Down as a DUP councillor, including a one year tenure as Lord Mayor, up until three years ago when he lost his seat at the 2019 local elections.

"I don't know what nickname they'll eventually put on this tree. Perhaps they'll name it after Rihanna's new baby - but to me it's the Platinum Jubilee tree," he added.

Read more: Ards and North Down gets new Alliance mayor

Read more: Queen's Platinum Jubilee: Earl and Countess of Wessex visit Belfast and Bangor

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