So, I went to the 6 PM singaround at MacTurchaill's Pub near Trinity College in Dublin on Sunday, and there was a confirmation party there before us - playing disco music. Can't quite figure what disco has to do with kids getting confirmed, but there you have it. The kids looked way too young for disco, so I guess it was meant for their parents. I hope the kids have better taste. The music was so loud we could hardly think. So, we moved to a near-empty pub a block away, and they gave us their entire upper floor. By the end of the evening, we must have had forty singers in that room - that's a lot of beer sold. MacTurchaill's lost out on a good thing. The singing got started at the new pub at 6:30, and we sang until 11:30 - and every moment was delightful. There were lots of funny songs I hadn't heard before, and others that were downright beautiful. Many of the singers had been at Bray the night before, so I no longer felt like a newcomer. George Henderson was there; and I finally got to meet Fergus, who's a delightful person.

Martin Ryan is taking me to a singaround near Galway on Sunday, so I'll have one more chance to experience an Irish singaround. I can't imagine that anything on my tour will give me more pleasure than these wonderful song gatherings.

I'm disappointed I missed the Góilín, but I've been having a wonderful time. I walked to out-of-the-way places for about 4 hours yesterday, just enjoying the architecture and soaking in Dublin. Beats the hell out of an organized bus tour.

Thanks to everyone who has welcomed me so graciously, especially George and Martin and Fergus. Sorry I missed you, Liberty Boy and Zozimus. Sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, George - it was a real pleasure to finally meet you.

-Joe-