Oh my god.

I often think of Brian. I lived with him and Belinda for a bit in Los Angeles when I was involved with the Celtic Arts Centre in the late 80s.

I would wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of his personality. A force of nature, and someone to be reckoned with, and infuriating, and dynamic, and eccentric. If I hadn't met Belinda and Brian when I did, I almost certainly would not be doing what I do now. Their music and their generosity and their passion was my Damascene moment. I remember sitting there in my first evening at ACS on Hollywood Boulevard, either in the ceili workshop or the music seisun, with this big grin on my face, and Belinda said, "You look like you've just come home."

There are a few people in your life who are the big, influential figures. Brian was definitely one of those for me. He was often infuriating and we certainly disagreed (heatedly) at times, but he was a complete one-off. The world is, indeed, a poorer place without him in it.

If you're in touch with Che and Belinda, tell them Joan Mullin sends her regards and sympathy. It will be a name they've not heard in more than 20 years but hopefully they'll remember.