My long journey through music began many years ago.  As a child, I remember drifting off to sleep knowing the sun was setting.  In the background I could hear the echos of my dad's records; Dubliners, Clancy Brothers etc.  

 

Soon I was to become the proud owner of a transistor radio.  I began to wonder if technology had reached its limits.  I was now drifting off to sleep listening to Radio Luxembourg, with its infamous erratic signal.  Knights in White Satin stands out in my mind.  I would look forward to the flute solo, only to have it fade away with the signal.  

 

My heart was still with Irish music.  I started to sing some of the folk songs I had listened to a hundred times before.  I remember then singing them to friends in the school playground.  To my surprise, they would listen.

 

As the years moved on, I started at college.  I would look forward to Friday afternoon.  Friday was the day to fill in our diaries of the previous week's work carried out on the lathe.  I preferred to sing songs to the rest of the class.  No one seemed to object.  Even the odd classmate would make requests for songs.  On leaving the classroom, I would notice pupils gathered in the corridor listening.  I must admit it was good for my ego!

 

I enjoyed trying to play many musical instruments and tentatively practised the guitar and the piano with limited success.  I gravitated towards the tin whistle.  As my whistle playing became more confident, I discovered that when learning an instrument, you should never become disillusioned if you can't seem to pass a certain level, because, when you least expect it, it will happen and then you have climbed another rung on the never-ending musical ladder.

 

During the Eighties, I had the privilege and good fortune to meet Bernard Overton.  A lovely, genuine person.  To me, his whole life seemed to be involved in music.  We would talk for ages, he would try to educate me about soprano and barotone etc.  Sadly for me it went in one ear and out the other.  Still it did not deter Bernard.  Over the years he made me a beautiful collection of whistles.  I know their nickname is Penny Whistles, but to me they are priceless.

 

My love for music and song was still growing.  I would attend many concerts.  Luke Kelly was the man.  I started to tag along with local bands.  Never expecting payment,  I was content to learn the ropes and soak up the experience of playing to an audience.

 

Eventually I formed my own band, Band Beggars.  Which I might add, is still going today - a bit like Trigger's Broom!  I played the pub circuit, premier meetings at Cheltenham, Aintree, Goodwood, and some one-off gigs like the Waldorf Hotel (some of the scenes for the Titanic were filmed there).  I played support to the old and young Wolfe Tones.  When I travel to Sweden and Denmark, Scandinavian gigs are great fun and the audiences are very attentive.  Occasionally, I am invited to play the whistle on other people's CDs.

 

I feel the time has come for a bit of self-indulgence and to leave my musical footprint.  I would never have completed this chapter in my life without the invaluable help from my old friend Gerry Diver.  Gerry plays a multitude of instruments on the cd.

 

I hope you enjoy our work, only made possible by the song writers and musicians who manage to capture and share their observations of The Theatre of Life.

 

 

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