He's also a most remarkable entertainer . . I wrote this somewhere else, within the last week, but I can't remember where . .

He has the legendary Irish "gift of the gab" without the sentimentality which too often detracts from that skill (or gift).

A little Ron story . . . Last time we saw him live was at a Folk Club in Cambridge. The compere made a reference to Cambridge Folk Festival, and some half-drunk pratt in the audience started haranguing him about how dreadful it was that Cambridge didn't book Ron Kavana, and what a genius Ron is . . . Mr Pratt proceeds to make a number of intejections into Ron's first set.

In the interval Mr Pratt falls asleep in his chair.

Second half starts; Ron completes his first number, audience start to applaud enthusiasticly. Ron immediately "shushes" them, indicating the sleeping Mr Pratt. Remainder of second half proceeds without audience applause, and much the better for Mr Pratt's non-participation.

Oh, and Ron participates in Tomas Lynch's CD "The Crux of the Catalogue" which, for my money, is the best Irish recording ever made . . (on Linecheck and not easy to find . .)

And I'd second Clinton's enthusiasm for Ron's version of John Barleycorn (I think that, too, has been discussed here before). Sorry, I lack the skill/knowledge to transcribe the tune . .

G.