'Catters may be interested in the following obituary in today's (March 26th) Guardian newspaper.

"'Galway' Joe Dolan
A pioneer in the revival of Irish traditional music, Joe Dolan, who has died of cancer aged 65, was also an inspired painter and legendary hellraiser. He taught Christy Moore a song while they consumed a bottle of whiskey and wrestled on the floor between verses. And why not?

In 1966, Joe was a founder member of Sweeney's Men (with Andy Irvine and Johnny Moynihan) and chose their name. With mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, whistle and harmonica marrying eclectic rhythms to traditional materials, the group invigorated the Irish folk scene and had an unexpected Irish top 10 hit with Old Maid in the Garret (1967). When Joe quit the band - to hitchhike to Israel to take part in the six-day war - he was replaced by Terry Woods, later of the Pogues.

Though he dropped professional music in favour of painting, Joe continued to compose robust, bitter-sweet songs, generously distributing tapes to anyone who was interested and still playing in impromptu sessions. Moore recorded Trip to Jerusalem and The Foxy Devil; the Dubliners did Nelson's Farewell; and the trio Ardvarna released a beautiful version of Mayfly Days, which evokes Joe's rural childhood.

Often called "Galway Joe Dolan", to differentiate him from his mainstream namesake, Joe celebrated his native county's wild beauty in paintings with fierce slashes of colour and swirling, distorted perspectives. A bog lake or turf-stack becomes a jewel against the huge skies and lonely Connemara mountains. His photography records the weird charm of an abandoned doll, or derelict shed, images he noted while cycling the four miles to his nearest bar.

Both iconoclastic and familiar, Joe fitted naturally into the Gaelic tradition of wandering poets. Wander into the Crane bar, Galway, any Sunday lunchtime, and inquire, "Any chance of a Joe Dolan tune?" There will be, and you won't regret it. One day we may see publication of his autobiography, Lost Miles and Broken Strings, and a definitive recording of his collected songs.

He is survived by his son Andy, sister Chris, brother-in-law Vim, and nieces Eileen and Jessica."

Sadly another one gone to the great Ceili House in the sky. Ar Deis De go raibh Se.