Hi Folks,

    Just sitting at home looking out the window at a typical Irish Summer’s day.   Today already we have had sun,  rain and high winds.   The weather has been very unpredictable these past few weeks,  as usual but I have been lucky on the two tours I have done since I have written my last blog.   My first tour was with Chuck Brodsky and 17 of his friends/fans.   We started in West cork,  then went on to Dingle and then on to Liscannor/Doolin, Co. Clare and finished in Limerick on our last night.

 As I said we were very lucky with the weather.   It did not stop us doing anything we had planned on tour.   We,  as usual saw some wonderful scenery and the music was really good.   Some of the musical highlights were of course Chuck Brodsky’s performances,  he is an incredible singer/songwriter.   We had Ger Wolfe do a gig for us in Bantry,  i was so impressed by him.   We lucked out in Dingle as we were invited to Donough Hennessy’s birthday party in John Benny’s pub.   Some other guests included Pauline Scanlon, (of course) Eleanor Shanley,  John Spillane,  Eilis Kennedy,  Seamus Begley,  Damian Mullane, (Irish Champion Accordian Player) Tola Custy and many more.   We had a wonderful night.   Our night in Doolin was also memorable as we heard a great session of music played by Blackie O’Connell, (Uileann Pipes)  Karl Lynch, (Banjo) Cyril O’Donoghue, (Bouzouki and vocals) and Ger Hoyne, (Bodhran)  What a night !   We had a lovely group of people on tour and I think they all enjoyed the tour very much.   Chuck is already planning a tour for next year,  which will happen  on June 16,  2009.

 My next tour,  which I only finished on Friday last was a private one for two people from Montana.   We again had a wonderful night in Dingle and the tour also went very well.   Weather was great except for the last couple of days.   Again the people were really lovely and we had a blast.   They are talking about doing a full family tour next year as most of their family play music in Montana and also have Irish/Norwegian backgrounds.

 I am now finalising arrangements for my first tour with Anne Feeney.   This is one that I am really looking forward to.   We are again going to Dingle,  Liscannor/Doolin and Connemara.   This is the first of three tours for Anne.

 I am a little bit uneasy this past week as this time last year I was in Kerrville.  I wish so much I could be there.   Johnsmith has been emailing me which has really unsettled me.  Last year in Kerrville was such a wonderful time for me.   I hope to get back there again next year.  

We have booked John Spillane for the Johnsmith West Cork tours later on in the year,  so that is very exciting as John is Ireland’s best folksinger.   We are also hoping to get Eleanor Shanley for our Donegal tours.

That’s all for now.  I will write again during the Anne Feeney Tour.

 Regards……………..TOM