There are actually two, and they came from two artists whom I have more respect and admiration for than I can describe.

After singing with Dan Milner at my first Getaway, upon returning home I got an email from him in which he asked me about the CD that The Conklin Ceili Band (my band) was working on. I kind of explained the direction, and he said he had a song for me. He told me that he was sending it to Frank Harte and me. That song was Sligo Musketeers, which you can hear on our myspace page. Dan is an excellent musicologist and had found the broadside while researching in the dark corners of the basement of some library in NYC. It had never been recorded, as it was a throwback to the music hall days. I have been grateful ever since. A great man, great singer, and good friend.

The other was Ed Trickett. Again, at The Getaway, he heard me sing Brendan Nolan's incredible "Far From Their Homes" (a song of the coffin ships, I think it is the greatest song on that subject) accompanied by Jeri Corlew on fiddle and Kath Westra on guitar. As I came off the stage, he asked me where I got that song. I told him, and he grabbed the closest guitar (a damn nice Martin...***chuckle***) and took me outside. Up against the fender of a parked car he sang the song "Along The Famine Road" which we later recorded and put on our first CD. He told me he had been carrying it around looking for the singer for the song and I was it. In my world, Ed Trickett is like Elvis. I was shocked and incredibly appreciative. Ed is another great inspiration and I am in his debt.

All the best,

Mick