I had the pleasure of spending a few minutes with Tommy Makem last summer as he rehearsed for a performance at the Irish Pub in Harwich, MA. When I told him that I'd enjoyed his music over the years but the last time I'd seen him in person was in New York sometime in the late sixties, he took my hand in his, placed his other hand solidly on my shoulder, looked me square in the eye and said "Well, thanks fer comin' back". It's hard to convey a tone of voice in print, but anyone who's been in Tommy's company will understand.