Tom Munnelly, foremost Irish song collector and folklorist, faced approaching death with great humanist courage – and no little humour. Shortly before he died (of cancer, as it happens), I was privileged to attend a kind of "anticipatory wake" in Tom's home. He apologised for the absence of the (wicker) coffin in the corner of the room by announcing "It's on order – but it hasn't arrived yet!"

Regards

p.s. Any guesses as to what I sang on the night?