Hi Jed!

Meagher's memoirs were prepared by Michael Cavanagh. If you can get that book inexpensively on www.bookfinder.com or somewhere else, it's worth a tumble. I have a number of other books and articles about Meagher... at least in part. I set to music an old broadside about his departure from Tasmania. Bob Conroy and I recorded it for an album we are doing together with Mick Moloney but nothing has happened on that front lately.         

I write about 12 articles a year for Irish Music magazine. About 8 are for a feature called "The Story Behind the Song." I did one on the Castle Garden here in NYC. I actually worked at the Castle (now called by an earlier name, Castle Clinton) over the winter and I had a locker there which I thought was pretty cool. I interview people from time-to-time and do some work as an actual reporter. I write for a few other magazines on a ad hoc basis as well. I have not been getting Irish Music of late for a reason unknown to me (probably no reason) so I'm sorry to have missed the review of your fine CD. I hope the recording is going well. I'm sure your show is very entertaining and very good.

Enjoyed "No Irish Need Apply" which I got at Mystic Seaport last month. The notes are extensive and good. All Dave's friends and relatives are historians by the looks of things.

To go off topic a bit, I have a new CD. You can take a look and actually hear a bit of it at Irish Songs from Old New England. You being an original New Englander, you might find it interesting. I only sing on 3 of the songs but I have quite a crew to take over where I leave off... Gordon Bok, Martin Carthy, Len Graham, Frank Harte, Louis Killen, Sandy & Caroline Paton, Robbie O'Connell, Ian Robb and other friends.

But I don't want to hog this thread. Start one on "Irish Songs from Old New England" and we can talk about it there.

Meagher was lost overboard of a tied-up riverboat at Fort Benton, MT while he was serving as Acting Governor. The body was never located. Mrs. Meagher was a devout R.C. convert and his memorial service was held at the church of St. Francis Xavier on 15th Street, near 5th Avenue; I live at 19th and 8th. The church is still there as well as Xavier High Shool, a very good military school very well known in NYC.   

All the best,
Dan