I played a gig last night at the opening of this years “Masters of the Tradition” festival, which is celebrating its 7th year. I enjoyed playing with Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Damian Mullane. The gig was a fundraiser for the festival which has lost some of its sponsors in recent years. Anyone who likes to hear “The Pure Drop” of music should consider coming to this festival. Over the years I have heard brilliant performances from Liam O’Flynn, Frankie Gavin, Michéal O’Suilleabháin, Tony Mc Mahon and Tommy Peoples, to name but a few. There are no distractions or gimmicks here. The music is presented in an intimate setting, the numbers are limited (350 – 400 max capacity) the amplification is passive and adequate. Those who come to listen and the musicians who play all seem to raise their game accordingly. Frank Harte gave one of his last concerts here, an evening I’ll never forget. The legendary Kitty Hayes came out of retirement and gave a beautiful performance on concertina. Niamh Parsons rose to great heights last year. Jimmy Keane from America brought us some wild and beautiful piano accordion, so too did Paddy O’Brien on the chromatic. I had not heard him play for 34 years. Bantry is a grand town to visit. It has truly maintained the feel of an Irish Town. Every Friday is market day, with a big market on the first Friday of each month. There are plenty of good Atin houses. Nice to sit on the square and watch the world go by. There is a great statue of Wolfe Tone in the Square. A similar statue of Michael Collins in Clonakilty. Neither hero was left intact by their sculptors. Ne’er a bulge in the bronze at all, at all. They probably got strict instructions from the parish priest; “We don’t want no mickeys stickin outta dem aul heroes, only be drivin’ the poor wee nuns demented seeing them big rebel pricks hangin outta them God save us”. I am considering a competition; would any of you be prepared to send in photos of public art in your area, to include the name of the artist and, wherever possible whoever or whatever made the commission. There are some beauties out there. I particularly like the roped bull near Nenagh and the giant sliotar outside Naas. The Emigration piece in Derry (Eamon O’Doherty) is tender, beautiful and very moving. The same artist made the Galway Hooker in Eyre Square and the Floozy in the Jacuzzi (fucked up and decommissioned). He is also known to have written a song or two and painted some album sleeves. The artist Vincent Browne has some lovely pieces around Dublin City. The Usher outside the Screen on the Green and the seat in Temple Bar. I can’t make head nor tail outta whatever that piece is on the Kildare by-pass. It’s very sad to see the sinful neglect of Mick Bulfin’s piece between Ballydehob and Skibbereen; it has been utterly neglected and is completely overgrown. Fiona Mulholland has a very good work hidden behind the Royal Yacht Club in Kingstown where only the feckin’ Yachties get to see it … shame on whoever banished it to such a lonely plinth. Every town in the country has public art, some of it inspirational and some of it less so. A nice review of the year from our good friend Hilary Scanlan has been posted in the review section. I’m delighted to announce a clatter of gigs, many of them in new venues; September 17th – Roscommon September 18th – Clifden September 24th – Bray, Ballywaltrim Community centre October 8th & 9th – Ennis October 14th – Glenties October 29th & 30th – Liverpool November 1st – Gateshead November 3rd – Nottingham November 5th & 6th – London November 19th & 20th – Drogheda November 25th & 26th – Derry In December dates for Shinrone and Charleville will be confirmed shortly. As these dates come on sale there will be details on the gig page There will also be a gig in Whelan’s in Dublin this current winter; it will be to honour the memory of Derek Nally who passed recently. A man who dedicated his working life to promoting music and caring for performers. A good friend and caring host, he will be missed by all of us. All proceeds from this gig will go to Derek’s family. I hope to play Dublin in early January, probably in the Grand Canal Theatre. This will be finalised in a month’s time. Just back from 2 nights in the Briery Gap, Macroom, where I did 2 solo gigs in a wonderful venue under the careful eye and passionate stewardship of Ann Dunne … If only every town had such an “Arts Administrator”. I got the call from The Kildare Camp to be on standby in case Dermot Earley is not fit for next Sunday … I have the inside track on Down Football and will be happy to pull on “The Flourbag” should the call come … The turf is in the Haggart waiting to be clamped, the hay is saved, the bonamhs and the chicks are thriving, the lambs are gambolling and the calves suckling … Dr. Sinnott and I are gradually converging upon Roscommon. See ye along the way …