I was just coming to post an obit - Packie's nephew phoned me. Here's the notice, since I've written it:

PACKIE MANUS BYRNE R. I. P.

It is with the greatest sorrow that I have to tell you all that Packie Manus slipped away from us this evening at about half six (Greenwich time). He went peacefully, and I know in his last days, life had become a burden to him because he could no longer see or hear to any great extent, nor move about.

He told me often that his time in the folk scene were the best days of his life, and I need to pass this along to everyone who knew him, and who helped this to be so.

The removal is this evening, and the wake will be held in his little house in Drumaghy Park (No. 12). The funeral is on Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the Catholic church in Ardara (County Donegal), with interment to follow in the family plot at the church in Bruckless.

I'm sorry for the starkness of these words, and - even though I have been expecting this - it's still a shock. I'll try to write more later, and if any of you can manage to get to the funeral, we'll see you there.

Dear, dear Packie - Rest In Peace

Bonnie