A very belated message to all of you who went to Portaferry- I've been locked away doing a mad three week course up in Newcastle and so haven't been able to write sooner. It's involved a complete brain load / overload of information and a liver load of alcohol - as if that was needed after the Ireland gathering!

Had a really fantastic time on the Emerald Isle. Loved meeting/seeing you all. I've just been looking through the pictures and they brought back lovely memories. Fantastic music and company. Really have to start learning that mandolin properly - so much inspiration - I really hope that next years gathering I'll be able to keep up with the tunes. But in the short term I'll do my best to get a vague understanding of how to play it before Eurogathering (miracles can happen!?). Big thanks to Greg and Eric for helping me get to Ireland and to 'that Plaxty gig' (wow) and massive thanks to Fibbs for organising such a wonderful gathering.

Kate x