I met Packie in around 1975. I was sharing a house with Bonnie Shaljean and some others at that time. I was proud to call him my friend then and since then, and have always loved him for his warmth, generosity of spirit, humour and love of life. I can't believe he's gone. The last time I saw him was at the party in Ardara organised for his 90th birthday. It had been a while since I'd seen him, so I went up to wish him happy birthday and introduced myself to him in case he'd forgotten me over the years. "Ah, but who but yourself could it be?" he said, grinning ... and of course he was right!
One other memory to add to the mix ...I remember spending a very silly evening with him and with Sean Cannon, eating at a Turkish restaurant and the three of us singing together after the food (this wasn't a gig - we were just singing) and for some reason it ended with the three of us collapsed in a totally un-sexual way in the room he was then living in. I think I promised never to mention it but I'm not quite sure why it was supposed to be a secret.
I'm sure he's up there with the angels teaching them new tunes for their harps.   RIP Packie Manus.