I ran into Shay Walker in 2001 or 2002 at Paddy Burke's in Boston. He was running an open mic night and I stopped for a visit - and joined in. I played Come Out You Black and Tans, after which he asked me, "What made you play that song?"

I was a little surprised by the question, but told him I had some family history connected with the era - and stories passed on through my father from his grandfather, so the events and the attitude of the song had resonance with me ... etc etc

He said, "Oh" and went on to explain that he believed his band, Battering Ram were the first to record it - and one of the verses I sang was one a band member had written.

Not what I was expecting. But I guess me singing that song was not what he was expecting!

Small world.