In the folk music of Ireland, as well as many other areas, it is not unusual to hear references to Queen Bess. HBO, in conjunction with BBC, is currently showing "Elizabeth I" and I am enjoying it immensely. Helen Mirren plays the title role, with Jeremy Irons as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. It is a two part movie, and I have seen the first part which takes us through the death of Mary of Scotland, and the death of Leicester. Mirren, it appears to me, is giving a performance worthy of great acclaim.

I am extremely interested in how my Irish and British friends who have seen this feel about it.

All the best,

Mick