Hi........my name is Mick.........actually its Michael Richard Patrick O'Leighen...........I am a smoked Mudcataholic.........in the olden days I used to smoke turkey, trout, ham, chicken, lampshades, turtle wax, and hippie beads. I quit because I heard it led to heroin addiction and rampant sexual wantoness.

Mudcat hasn't influenced me one bit!! I am the same stellar talent in hiding that I have always been. Just because Mudcat has gained me a couple of friends like Sandy and Caroline Paton, Ed Trickett, Rick Fielding, Jed Marum, Peter T, Blessings Barbara, Catspaw, Charlie Baum, Mary and George LaMarca, Karen Kobela, Jeri Corlew, Max, Jeff, Joe Offer, KT, Allan, Bill Sables, Micca, Carol, Dick Greenhaus, Seamus Kennedy, Dan Milner, Kath Westra, Cap'n Bob, Don Meixner, THE FAIR ONE, Justa Picker, Tony, Willie O, Crowhugger, Brother Dick Swain...............I mean what the hell has that got to do with me????? How the hell would exposure to Folk Legacy ever influence such a stellar individual as meself?????? How would singing with Tom Hall, Dan Milner, Shay Walker, Peg, and my dear friend Barry Finn, all in one trip ever have even the slightest influence on how I would interpret any song at all? Oh, and I suppose that folks will try and convince me that my exposure here to Aine, Philippa, and Annaroi would have some kind of mystical effect on my ability to sing as gaeilge???? Not a chance, sez I!!! And when I make my trip to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, I am sure it will be the same story. Those Layabouts won't have the slightest influence on these sage pipes.

Nope..........I don't care what you say......this place has had no impact or effect whatever on this aul Irish American.

All the best,

Mick with tongue planted firmly in cheek