It was 1986, Galway, a Saturday afternoon when I stumbled into the Quays Pub when it still had the gritty atmosphere that was so enjoyable before they cleaned it up. Iwas carrying my bodhran and little else, and as I ordered my lunch, the waitress told me a session would be starting within the hour. I hung around, and soon the fiddles and flutes started to appear, so I arrogantly took one of the chairs. I received a cool reception from the other players until one of the audience members suggested that I not play my bodhr n because I was interfering with their appreciation of Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh, who was sitting beside me playing his bodhr n. That's all it took, immediately the other musicians closed ranks, told me to ignore the gobshite in the audience, and invited me to play up to my heart's content. It turned out to be one of the finest sessions of Irish music I ever experienced. Only later did I learn that among the session players, other than "Ringo", was Alec Finn of De Dannan; Sean Ryan, a wonderful well-known whistle player, and several others. I even have Ringo's autograph on the skin of my drum (which is how I remember the year it occurred.)

Keep the Faith. Beannachtai Feile Padraig (The blessings of St. Patrick.)

Jack Hickman