On my first trip to Ireland (August 2001), I was very disappointed with the music because we heard American-style country music in every venue we visited in the West of Ireland. "Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal" (by Goats Don't Shave) was the big local hit of the day. We walked into one bar and the band leader said, "Here come some Americans - guess we'd better play some Irish music." And they launched into "Black Velvet Band."

And then Martin Ryan rescued me in Dublin, and we went to a couple of terrific sessions - Frank Harte was singing at one of them. My second trip was in May, 2012. By that time, I knew where to go, and I went to some wonderful sessions in Dublin and Galway. Didn't hear no country music nohow. And no "Black Velvet Band," neither.

-Joe-