Several years ago, while browsing the internet, I came upon Mudcat's thread on haunting tunes. I knew I loved traditional Irish and Scottish tunes, but I knew very little beyond some songs that had been passed down in the family from my GG grandfather. I copied every reference of Scottish/Irish origin and systematically began to check them out.

Thanks to the Mudcat thread, and music of sufficient awfulness at my gym that I felt the need to buy an iPod in self defense, I now have quite a large library of wonderful music, with an emphasis on laments and slow airs. I know whose singing or playing speak to me. With a current collection of about 150 CDs of Gaelic traditional music to draw upon, I have a Slow Aires and Laments playlist of 50 tunes, and a broader Exiles and Farewells playlist of 150 tunes. I also have some more specialized playlists of Jacobean tunes and of piobreachd (spelling?).

I cannot thank the members of Mudcat enough, and if anyone is interested in my playlists, I'd be happy to share them. You have given me a great deal of pleasure, and I'd be happy to return it.