Thank you all for your responses.

Terrible news about Tommy. I had heard at the Catskills Irish Arts Week in July that he was very ill; hadn't heard of his death. A bright light in the Irish traditional singing world has been extinguished. I'll miss seeing him this time, but I'll continue to share some of his choice stories about collecting songs and other folklore.

And it's too bad the Clare Festival is no more. It was just the sort of event I would plan my trip around.

Thanks, Philippa, for all the info. My timing is flexible enough that I hope to plan the trip based on which festivals I'd like to attend, regardless of the month. I think I'd be in over my head at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge, however. And of course there's no off season for the music, buiochas le Dia. I was meaning to imply (not very successfully, I guess) the off tourist season.

Thanks again,

Cheers,

David