Is Ireland really that different from England. maybe everybody sings funny over there. they never have done when ever I've been there - except for when they're grinding out out the old sham shamrock for the tourists.

When Ronan, Daniel, Westlife, Sinead and the rest want to make themselves understood they seem to have access to the mid altantic lingua franca that is availble to all of us. You know the one that renders you helpless with laughter and confirms us in your eyes as poltroons.

Come to think of it The Bachelors are in the charts at the moment - which of their hits did they do inthe old sean nos style - myself, I forget - its been a long day.