It's hard to pick out particular highlights, since there were so many. Certainly Crasdant would have to be well up on the list. So would Entourloupe - their final mainstage performance had people up and dancing and screaming for more.

Sean Keane was superb as always. I would like to hear a lot more singing from Crasdant, too. I love their instrumental music, but Stephen Rees has a beautiful voice that should be heard more often. Huw Williams has got to be the funniest man in folk music, as well as being an outstanding guitar player and singer.

I enjoyed the English group, Crucible, too and Calasaig from Scotland. I learned some good songs from both.

There was a great mix of ages in the performers as well as in the audience. During the entire week of the Celtic College and the Festival I heard plenty of people in their teens and twenties playing traditional tunes and singing traditional songs with real talent and respect. The people going wild for Crasdant and Entourloupe were mostly young.

Goderich recharges my musical batteries every year.

Edmund