A traditional musician is asking the public for help finding his prized flute which was stolen from his car at the weekend.
Stíofán Ó Luachráin from Belfast is well known in music circles and is an accomplished flute and whistle player.
His €4,000 flute was taken when thieves smashed a window of his car in Belfast on Saturday night.
They also took a MacBook Pro laptop and other specialist equipment.
Stíofán says while it would be great to get the computer and other items back, it is the flute he's really keen to have returned.
The flute is the work of a Breton craftsman with a reputation for turning out top quality instruments.
"That particular flute I saved up for years to be able to afford. There's a two year waiting list to get it and then once I had it, it's just such a wonderful instrument, I loved it, I really did.
"I'm kicking myself that I left it in the way I did."
His story has been shared widely on social media and he is hoping that the publicity will be enough to dissuade the thieves from trying to move it on.
"Since it's such a unique instrument, it's made out of African blackwood. I don't think the person who took it has any idea of the value of it."
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He has alerted shops that trade in second hand instruments in the city and says he expects anyone who knows their flutes will realise it is his stolen one were it to be offered for sale.
He says the instrument is "precious" to him and carries unique "sentimental value".
