I'm sitting here looking at a postcard recently received from Ennis, Co. Clare, of Custy's Traditional Music Shop. One of the flute players who attends our session, an Englishman who is teaching at the local university, is in Ireland for some music and learning. His postcard describes his trip - "Last night's fun was especially memorable: flute players Paul McGramon, Peter Molloy, Harry Bradley; and box phenomenon Sharon Shannon, all in the local pub! Got home at 3:300 a.m. and they tell me it ended at 5:00! Great sean nos at Gielry's pub, too, Colm O'Donnell from Sligo. Wish you could hear it. - Simon"

Simon understands why I stand up and sing alone without the guitar at our session, and a few others know that there is an actual tradition of sean nos, but I have had to tell people to not try to play along. There is one person in particular who feels compelled to sing along, even when she has never heard the song before. I keep repeating that solo unaccompained singing is an Irish tradition, but somehow, for some people, the message just doesn't get through. I do know that as soon as I start, the room always gets very quiet and attention is held through the song. There is no other solo music that has the ability for keeping attention for so long, because people are hearing the STORY, which they don't hear with instruments. There is more emotion communicated, as well. Joe Heaney, "Say the song".

Alice