I don't actually care what Joe Offer thinks. Mike Donaghy was a mate of mine and I hadn't actually heard about his death until I saw this thread.

I first met Mike in Chicago in the early 1980s when he was playing with an Irish band called Samhradh. Good band, as it happens. We lost touch for several years then he called me again a few years ago to play a few gigs with him in North London. One of the most enjoyable St. Patrick's night gigs I ever played was at Redditch Public Library in 1997 with the two of us playing some tunes and him reading some of his poetry in between.

I spoke to him a few weeks ago and we discussed the possibility of him coming up for the Liverpool Irish Festival. I was really looking forward to seeing him again.

Such a nice bloke.

Damn.