Of course it is pointless and even insulting to remind you that the Irish tradition is filled with songs of hardship and oppression. However it may assist your exercise to get into the minds of the hard-pressed and o-pressed.

Two books which I highly reccomend are Patrick McGill's "Children of the Dead End" and Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes". Read both and you will marvel at the resiliance of humanity and every song of the oppressed will have a new meaning. Trying to live the life of the oppressed is difficult as those who usually undertake such experiments have the safety net of a "normal life" awaiting them. But these books, with their authors gift for words, paint vivid pictures.

Read these books and "Hard Times Come Again No More" will touch parts of your heart which you may not have known had ever existed.

Wishing you good luck and every success on your worthy programme.

Frank McGrath
Nenagh Singers Circle