Album Notes

About Me! Born in 1964 and living in a quiet area 10 miles west of Cork city Ireland called Dripsey for practically all of my life so far! I had a great interest in music from an early age, in particular folk music. I probably got passive inspiration from my older brothers who used to play LP's of "The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem", "The Dubliners", "Planxty" etc My first instrument was the single row button box (accordion). I then started playing the five- string banjo after receiving some informal lessons from my older brother Tim. I was about eleven at the time. I continued to get tips from him and eventually developed my own style. My first visit to a concert theatre would have been to the Savoy in Cork city to see The Dubliners perform. Even at such an early age, maybe nine years old, this experience won me over to folk music forever!. Luke Kelly became my big inspiration as a folk singer and still is to this day.

My main influences in the folk scene would be Luke Kelly of The Dubliners, Tommy Makem particularly as a song writer, The Clancy s, Christy Moore and Pete Seeger and in recent times my great friend Bobby Clancy. I also have a great interest in the five-string banjo, all styles but clawhammer/frailing is my favourite. Collecting fine banjos is also hobby of mine. My main aim is to keep the folk tradition alive and keep singing all the old songs and also the new ones. I have never written songs in a serious mode, but would like to have ago at some stage.