Strange ways and unexpected turns, Steve. Crooked roads and the unexpected places they kead us.

I saw Andy Irvine in 1975 orvthere about. With Paul Brady. I had the lp at that point so Planxty must have been on my radar too. But I gave no recollection when I encountered his music first.

I have seen him lots of times since, in all sorts of places and in all sorts of combinations. Last time about a year ago in a small theatre in Kilkee. He had a hundred people singing 'you fascists bound to loose'. Here's hoping he is right about that.

And meanwhile I ended up in a rickety cottage on the West Coast of Clare. Swings and roundabouts.