I recall that trip to NB as being inspirational for me. We met some folks in Newcastle who sang PETER EMBERLY, THE MERMAID, some other logging songs, they had also composed a ceilí dance for the occasion. They had some good dancers and fine fiddlers, French, Irish and Scotch. I met someone on the bus we came up with who had some fine songs in Irish and in English which I have since learned. At the time my songs were SPANCIL HILL(not Robbie Mc Mahon's version he got from Michael Considine), ON RAGLAN ROAD, FROM CLARE TO HERE,songs which are fine, but not particularly traditional.

We met the band Déanta at the festival and were able to sit in with a séissiún with them(I recall sitting with my bow in the air watching them tear through what seemed to be 100's of Donegal reels and jigs. I remember being treated with respect and given encouragement to play a tune which I remember to be SÍ BEAG AUGUS SÍ MÓR.

I have a friend who is a fisherman who grew up on Shirkin Island off the coast of Ireland. He told me on his trips to Newfoundland that he seemed to blend in very well with both the music and the dialect.

Brían.